Rosario Central Draws Blank Against Corinthians as Di María Insists Copa Libertadores Round of 16 Clash Deserved More

Nothing to separate the two sides on the scoreboard, but Ángel Di María couldn't hide his bittersweet feelings when the final whistle blew. Rosario Central played to a 0-0 draw with Corinthians at the Gigante de Arroyito in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores round of 16, and the Canalla captain walked away convinced his team deserved a lot more than it got.

El Fideo held nothing back in the mixed zone. He talked about a tough first half due to weather conditions and, in his reading of the match, a Central side that controlled the majority of the 90 minutes against a Brazilian opponent of real quality.

We deserved a lot more than what we ended up getting. I think from the start of the match, the first half was tough on us because of the wind. But even so we created chances. We played well. This is the round of 16 of the Copa Libertadores and you're up against a rival with a ton of quality that plays really well.Ángel Di María

His insistence on the point had everything to do with the chances Central generated. For Di María, the team's collective performance mattered more than the final score, something he stressed when breaking down the full 90 minutes.

I think over the 90 minutes we were the better team, we created a ton of situations, but that's soccer. We finished 0-0 and it'll be decided over there.Ángel Di María

A Surge Building for Weeks

The midfielder also wanted to frame the draw within the context of the team's recent form. He pointed to a growth process that, by his own account, started with the match against Racing and continued to build through the demands of the following clash with River Plate.

Explaining the game plan, he said the idea was to replicate that same intensity rather than sit back and wait on the opponent.

Today we said it was going to be a game like the one against River, intense, about getting stuck in and playing, and we had to go out there and impose our terms.Ángel Di María

The return leg will be played in Brazil, and Di María is already looking ahead to it with optimism. He noted that Corinthians managed a 0-0 draw away from home, and that a repeat of that result, or simply a goal, would be enough to send Central through to the quarterfinals. He also pointed to the backing of the fans, who packed Arroyito, and said he hopes to feel that same support again on the other side, from the Argentine community in Brazil.

The result leaves the tie wide open ahead of the second leg. With the 0-0 in hand, Central knows a straightforward win, without needing a big margin, would be enough to advance to the quarterfinals. Di María closed out his comments with a message of full support for the squad, despite the finishing that was missing in front of goal.

I think between the fans and all of us, we put everything at their goal. Sometimes that happens, it just doesn't go in, but it'll be decided over there and I'm proud of this team.Ángel Di María