Varini’s Juárez Debut Thwarted By Mazatlán And Vucetich

The arrival of Hernán Cristante to the bench of FC Juárez put an end to the brief era of Ricardo “Tuca” Ferretti at the helm of the border team. However, the Bravos have not yet been able to add their first victory in the Clausura 2023 of Liga MX and this Monday they suffered a new setback against Mazatlán FC, which left them at the bottom of the standings.

At the Kraken Stadium, the locals took advantage of their opportunities and took the three points with a 2-0 victory, in a duel that marked the debut of DT Gabriel Caballero with the Sinaloan team and that left Hernán Cristante with a bitter taste in his mouth, who saw how his team was surpassed by the “Cañoneros” despite having more possession of the ball and more shots on goal.

A Match of Missed Opportunities

FC Juárez took control of the ball from the start and generated the first scoring chances, but they lacked precision in the final meters. Mazatlán, on the other hand, took advantage of their counterattacks and in the 26th minute they took the lead through Ariel Nahuelpán, who took advantage of a rebound left by Alfredo Talavera after a shot by Eduard Bello.

The Bravos continued to insist, but they found an inspired Nicolás Vikonis in the Mazatlán goal. The Uruguayan goalkeeper made several saves to keep his goal intact and frustrate the Juárez strikers.

Second Half Resurgence

In the second half, FC Juárez came out with more determination and intensity, but they continued to lack clarity in the last third. Mazatlán, for its part, was more effective and in the 65th minute they extended their lead through Bryan Colula, who took advantage of another defensive error by the Bravos.

Cristante’s team tried to react, but their efforts were in vain and they ended up surrendering their third consecutive defeat in the tournament. With this result, FC Juárez remains at the bottom of the standings with only one point out of a possible nine, while Mazatlán FC climbs to eighth place with four units.

Vucetich’s Tactical Masterclass

One of the key factors in Mazatlán’s victory was the tactical approach of coach Rubén Omar Romano. The Argentine coach opted for a defensive scheme with five defenders and two defensive midfielders, which prevented FC Juárez from generating clear scoring chances.

Romano’s strategy also included quick counterattacks, which caught Juárez’s defense out on several occasions. The “Cañoneros” took advantage of their speed and precision to generate dangerous scoring opportunities and, ultimately, to secure the victory.

Cristante’s Work Ahead

For Hernán Cristante, the defeat against Mazatlán FC represents a significant setback in his quest to turn around FC Juárez’s fortunes. The Argentine coach has not yet been able to find the right formula to make his team competitive and the results have not accompanied him.

Cristante will have to work hard to improve his team’s defensive performance and find a way to make his players more effective in the final third. FC Juárez has a squad with enough quality to compete in Liga MX, but they need to find consistency and confidence to start climbing positions in the standings.

Conclusion

FC Juárez’s debut under Hernán Cristante has not been as expected. The Bravos have not yet been able to win a game in the Clausura 2023 and their performance has left much to be desired. Mazatlán FC, on the other hand, has shown a clear improvement under the leadership of Rubén Omar Romano and they are now in the fight for the playoff positions.

The defeat against Mazatlán is a wake-up call for Cristante and his players. FC Juárez needs to find solutions quickly if they want to avoid getting into a deeper hole and compromising their permanence in Liga MX. The next few weeks will be crucial for the Bravos, who will have to face tough opponents such as Club América, Tigres UANL, and Cruz Azul.

It remains to be seen if Cristante will be able to turn things around at FC Juárez. The Argentine coach has a difficult task ahead of him and he will need to find the right balance between defense and attack to make his team competitive. The Bravos have the potential to be a surprise in Liga MX, but they need to start showing it on the field.