Chico and Fortaleza shared the points in a goalless draw at Estadio La Independencia on Wednesday. The Clausura round seven fixture ended 0:0 after ninety minutes. It was a frustrating afternoon for both sides.
The visitors held possession but could not break through. Fortaleza had 54 per cent of the ball and launched 94 attacks, but the final ball was always lacking. And here's the thing — they managed just one shot on target all evening. The home side defended deeper and looked to hit on the counter.
The first yellow card arrived in the fortieth minute when Yesid Díaz went into the book. Alejandro Maya collected his caution just before half-time in the forty-fifth minute. The game grew tighter as the halves progressed. Juan Diaz and Santiago Vivas were booked in the second period, each picking up a yellow card.
Fortaleza made changes first, bringing Richardson Rivas on in the fifty-eighth minute. Sebastián Navarro followed shortly after in the fifty-ninth minute. Alejandro Maya was replaced in the sixtieth minute. Chico responded with Sebastian Salazar entering the fray in the seventy-first minute.
The numbers tell an interesting story. Chico created more chances despite less possession — their expected goals stood at 1.04 compared to Fortaleza's 0.15. And here's the thing — the hosts fired 9 shots while the visitors managed just 2. Both sides failed to create a single big chance.
Chico remain in eighteenth place with 17 points from 19 games. Fortaleza sit fifteenth with 22 points. The draw does little for either side's ambitions. It extends a run of poor form for the home side, who have now gone eight matches without victory.
