Students, champions in Mansilla’s hands

By the end of 2023, Students was crowned champion of Argentinian Cup and bid farewell to his iconic goalkeeper, Mariano Andujar, who is retiring from football. It seemed like a loss that was impossible to hide. However, almost five months later, the pincharrata team celebrated another title. Now conquer the League Cup and his hero is the new goalkeeper, Matias Mansillawho four years ago played in the fourth category of the team and was viewed with some mistrust when he arrived in León at the beginning of this year.

Mansilla has already saved two penalties against Mouth in Córdoba, in the semifinals. Now on Santiago del Esteroin his own province, in this case against the Velezthe goalkeeper was again important in that decisive series.

The goalkeeper, 28 years old and 1.92 tall, saved three shots, Joaquín García, Santiago Cáceres and Álvaro Montoro. Nothing happened by chance. He studied everything and wrote down on a piece of paper what he observed before each execution. Also, copying to Draw Martínez speaks to each of Vélez’s young players. “I know you,” he told them as if threatening them. Without as much action, there is nothing as good as Argentina’s world champion goalkeeper. But with tremendous effectiveness.

Estudiantes won 4-3 on penalties. All after 1-1 in 90 minutes of regulation and 30 minutes of extra time. In the game, Vélez deserved more because he created the best situations in quantity and quality.

However, Estudiantes started it by winning with a goal from outside the penalty area. Eros Mancuso in 14 minutes. Then Vélez was left with a few men due to the expulsion Damian Fernandezbut asserting that superiority he did not give up and immediately, even though he was at a numerical disadvantage, he tied it with a good goal from Alejo Sarcoan 18-year-old youth who entered three minutes earlier.

Just then, Estudiantes was also left with 10 players due to the expulsion Gaston Benedetti, who fouled Francisco Pizzini to prevent him from going one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Vélez put the punmarrata team in trouble. Of course, the story hasn’t been changed. The extension arrived. And the punishments came. And the glory went to Estudiantes.

Despite the distractions created by Vélez, as was the case with Boca, Estudiantes knew how to fight back and then celebrate. With different arguments, of course. Enzo Perezcame this year after his controversial departure from the river, is key to his experience. The Colombian Edwin Cetrealong with its speed, among other individualities.

The new champion is managed by a coach with a serious and winning profile, Eduardo Dominguezwho in a year and two months already has two pundit titles and has four in total on his CV (the other two include Colón and Nacional from Uruguay), enough for his father-in-law. Carlos Bianchi sand feel proud. And above all this Estudiantes, its president, Juan Sebastián Verón…

The children from the miraculous Vélez almost achieved victory. If they do not crown it, it will be because there is a team in front of them that is “hungry,” as Enzo Pérez said, and “with conviction,” as Eduardo Domínguez added. A team like Estudiantes. A challenger to all in Argentine football with his weapons. The champion of the Professional League Cup. Yes, Students champion again.