The first half of the Boca Juniors vs. Unión de Santa Fe match in the Torneo Clausura has concluded, and it's been a far from comfortable experience for the home side at La Bombonera. Unión, despite the 0-0 scoreline, arguably dominated the opening 45 minutes, creating several clear-cut chances that Boca struggled to contain.
Unión's Early Pressure
From the kickoff, Unión displayed a clear game plan, pressing Boca high and creating opportunities through quick transitions. As early as the 12th minute, Unión registered two promising attacks – one shot sailing just over the crossbar, and another dangerous cross lacking the finishing touch. This early pressure set the tone for the first half.
Boca Struggles to Respond
In contrast, Boca struggled to find their rhythm and create meaningful attacks. Up until the 37th minute, they hadn't even registered a shot on target. Unión, meanwhile, continued to probe, with Fascendini going close from a corner in the 28th minute. Braida also had a golden opportunity, but his effort was thwarted by Tagliamonte, although the midfielder was later flagged for offside.
Boca finally showed signs of life towards the end of the half. A well-worked move in the 43rd minute saw Alarcón and Velasco connect at the far post, but Velasco's shot, while acrobatic, only found the side netting. Alarcón also tested Tagliamonte with a powerful free-kick in the 37th minute, forcing the Unión keeper to tip the ball over the bar for a corner. These were the only real moments of danger Boca managed to create.
As the referee blew the whistle for halftime, Unión players protested, feeling they deserved extra time to capitalize on a promising counter-attack. Boca, on the other hand, hurried to the dressing room, needing to regroup and address their shortcomings. The second half promises to be a tense affair, with Boca needing to significantly improve their performance if they hope to secure a victory at home.