Santa Fe Beat Caracas 2-0, and Still Left Points on the Table
Independiente Santa Fe did what they needed to do against Caracas FC on Thursday at El Campín, controlling the tempo from the opening whistle and eventually putting the tie beyond real doubt with a 2-0 win, Hugo Rodallega opening the scoring in the 30th minute with a left-footed strike from outside the box before Franco Fagúndez sealed it in the 84th. The result gives Pablo Repetto's side a two-goal cushion to carry into next week's second leg in Venezuela.
Two goals is a good return, but it undersells how much of the match Santa Fe actually controlled. Caracas offered enough resistance to stay in the tie for long periods, and a Colombian side that dictated play through Omar Fernández, Jeison Angulo and Rodallega for most of the ninety minutes should have made the game safer than it looked at halftime. Elite teams don't let opponents hang around when they've been outplayed for that long. Santa Fe did, and they'll travel to Caracas next Thursday with a lead that's comfortable but not untouchable.
Until Santa Fe start finishing off matches early rather than late, they'll keep making straightforward ties harder than they need to be. This one worked out. The next one against tougher opposition might not.
