“Gonzalo Maffini turns the ball into his own net under pressure from an Estudiantes attack, gifting Sarmiento an early and somewhat fortunate lead.”
Pivotal“Junior Marabel steps up and confidently converts a penalty to double Sarmiento's lead, effectively ending Estudiantes' hopes of a comeback despite their dominance.”
Pivotal
Estudiantes de Río Cuarto
Sarmiento
Outstanding performance
Sarmiento•MidfielderEstudiantes de Río Cuarto controlled almost every metric that matters on paper - 65% possession, 18 shots to 12, and a staggering 14 corners to Sarmiento's one - yet walked away with nothing to show for it. Sarmiento needed just two moments of quality, or fortune, to punish their hosts: an early own goal from Gonzalo Maffini that gifted them the lead inside six minutes, and a clinically dispatched penalty from Junior Marabel in the 71st minute after Estudiantes had spent long stretches camped in the visitors' half. The hosts created danger throughout, racking up 74 dangerous attacks compared to Sarmiento's 30, but their profligacy in front of goal - just 3 shots on target from 18 attempts - meant they could never translate pressure into goals. For Sarmiento, this is a statement result that keeps them firmly in the title conversation, while Estudiantes will rue a performance that deserved more given the balance of play.
How entertaining was this match?
Corner awarded.
Shot by Martin Garnerone with his right foot is blocked.
Gonzalo Maffini has a left-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Corner awarded.
Elian Gimenez comes on for Julian Mavilla.
Francesco Lo Celso is on, and Gabriel Alanis is off.
Martin Garnerone replaces Fernando Rodriguez.
Offside.
Substitution: Gaston Arturia comes on for Santiago Salle.
Thiago Santamaría comes on for Jonathan Carlos Herrera.
Matias Valenti takes a left-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Shot from Gabriel Alanis with his right foot, but it's saved.
Alejandro Martin Cabrera takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Corner awarded.
Shot by Alejandro Martin Cabrera with a header, but it misses the target.
Corner awarded.
Junior MarabelShot! Junior Marabel scores with a right-footed shot.
Goal in the penalty shootout! Junior Marabel scores, making it 0-2.
Corner awarded.
Mateo Bajamich comes on for Mauro Abrahan Valiente.
Mauro Abrahan Valiente takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Jonathan Carlos Herrera takes a right-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Corner awarded.
Gaston Gonzalez comes on for Siro Rosane.
Yellow card issued to Fernando Rodriguez.
Corner awarded.
Mauricio Martinez takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Siro Rosane takes a right-footed shot, but it is saved.
Corner awarded.
Junior Marabel takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Gabriel Diaz comes on for Lucas Suarez.
Raul Lozano is substituted off for Gonzalo Gonzalez.
Corner awarded.
First half ends with a score of 0-1.
Corner awarded.
Jonathan Carlos Herrera takes a shot with his head, but it's saved.
Julian Mavilla takes a left-footed shot, but it is saved.
Gaston Gonzalez comes on for Ulises Gimenez.
Jonathan Carlos Herrera takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Matias Valenti takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Mauro Abrahan Valiente takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Offside.
Matias Valenti attempts a header but misses the shot.
Siro Rosane's left-footed shot is blocked.
Corner awarded.
Gabriel Alanis takes a left-footed shot, but it's saved.
Mauro Abrahan Valiente's header is saved.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Ibrahim Hesar takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Gabriel Alanis attempts a header but misses the shot.
Jonathan Carlos Herrera takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Gonzalo MaffiniYellow CardGonzalo Maffini receives a yellow card.
Offside.
Mauro Abrahan Valiente takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Gonzalo MaffiniShot - Gonzalo Maffini Other Body Part Shot Own Goal球
Own goal by Gonzalo Maffini puts the score at 0-1.
Corner awarded.
Cristian Zabala takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Mauricio Martinez takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Corner awarded.
Kick-off! The referee is Brian Ferreyra.
