Gabriel Heinze recorded his first away win as Newell’s manager with a hard-fought victory over La Academia on Wednesday night in Avellaneda.
Just three players remained in Heinze’s starting lineup from the team that drew 0-0 with Rosario Central in the Clásico Rosarino. There was a change of formation too, with Heinze naming three centre-backs – Ortiz, Ditta and Velázquez – in the Newell’s defence.
The fresh energy was evident from the off as Newell’s pressed hard, forcing Racing into losing the ball frequently and pushing up into the final third where Marcos Portillo missed a great chance in a one-on-one with Racing keeper Gabriel Arias after just 14 minutes. Portillo and the returning Armando Méndez, effective after a long injury lay-off, both had shots off-target that threatened Racing without finding the net.
19-year-old Jeremías Pérez Tica proved a handful for the Racing defence on his first start for Newell’s but it was Gustavo Velázquez who would score the only goal of the match midway through the second-half.
Velázquez lurked at the back post and slipped in to head home a deep Ramiro Sordo corner. After starting the season as first-choice, Velázquez has recently lost his place in the team but his second goal of the season now puts him level with Jorge Recalde on goals scored for Newell’s in this campaign.
Racing fell away after the goal and couldn’t muster an equaliser. The late debut of young Fabrizio Sartori as a substitute hailed the beginning of the professional journey for another new graduate of the Newell’s Old Boys academy.
Manager Gabriel Heinze, having rotated his side heavily, celebrated passionately at the final whistle but now has some difficult decisions to make ahead of the home game against River on Sunday considering the impressive performances of players like Méndez, Pérez Tica and Velázquez.
Watch the highlights of the match below.
