“Fernando Román's build-up play ends with César Pérez Maldonado breaking the deadlock for Defensa y Justicia, capitalising after a spell of sustained pressure that had already seen Lautaro Rios blocked and Juan Manuel Gutierrez Freire saved.”
Pivotal“Seconds after coming on as a substitute, César Pérez Maldonado doubles Defensa's lead with an assist from fellow substitute Valentín Loza — a triple substitution move that paid instant dividends for the home side.”
Pivotal“Bruno Cabrera pulls one back for Newell's Old Boys to make it 2-1, setting up a nervous final seven minutes for Defensa y Justicia and giving the visitors a lifeline they were unable to convert.”
Defensa y Justicia
Newell's Old Boys
Outstanding performance
Defensa y Justicia•DefenderDefensa y Justicia controlled this fixture with increasing authority after Newell's were reduced to ten men midway through the first half. Jeronimo Russo's second yellow card on 40 minutes — just nine minutes after his first booking — fundamentally altered the match, leaving Defensa free to dictate through their superior possession and pressing game. They dominated with 59% of the ball, completed 461 passes at 84% accuracy, and created the cleaner of the two sides' big chances. César Pérez Maldonado was the individual story, netting before half-time and then scoring within moments of entering as a second-half substitute to put the tie beyond doubt. Newell's did pull one back through Bruno Cabrera in the 83rd minute to set up a nervy finish, but it ultimately amounted to a consolation. For Defensa, sitting ninth in the Liga Profesional, this is a timely three points that continues to build their push toward the upper half of the table; for Newell's, the loss — compounded by a man disadvantage for 50 minutes — will sting given how costly those two Russo fouls proved to be.
How entertaining was this match?
Shot by Fernando Aurelio Roman Villalba with his right foot, but it's missed.
Cesar Ignacio Perez Maldonado takes a right-footed shot, but it is saved.
Franco Nicolas Escobar comes on for Martin Ortega.
Corner awarded.
Bruno Cabrera Shot - Bruno Cabrera Head Shot Goal
assist: Martín Ortega
Goal! Bruno Cabrera scores, making it 2-1.
Maximiliano Porcel comes on for David Barbona.
Offside.
Juan Manuel Gutierrez Freire takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Juan Manuel Gutierrez Freire takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Jeremias Lucco takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Corner awarded.
Francisco Scarpeccio is on, and Juan Ignacio Ramirez Polero is off.
Corner awarded.
Rodrigo Ezequiel Herrera comes on for Jeronimo Mattar.
Cesar Ignacio Perez Maldonado takes a shot with his right foot and scores.
assist: Valentín Pucheta Loza
Goal! Cesar Ignacio Perez Maldonado scores to make it 2-0, assisted by Valentin Loza.
Valentin Loza comes on for Ayrton Portillo.
Cesar Ignacio Perez Maldonado is on, and Leandro Miguel Fernandez is off.
Jeremias Lucco is on, and Domingo Blanco is off.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Offside.
Juan Manuel Gutierrez Freire attempts a header but misses the shot.
Offside.
Corner kick awarded.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Offside.
Offside.
Offside.
David Barbona takes a right-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Martín Luciano comes on for Lautaro Rios.
Cesar Ignacio Perez Maldonado receives a yellow card.
First half ends with a score of 1-0.
Ayrton PortilloYellow CardYellow card issued to Ayrton Portillo.
Yellow card issued to Ayrton Portillo.
Santiago Sosa takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Santiago Sosa takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Corner awarded.
Second yellow card shown to Jeronimo Russo.
Goal! The score is now 2-0.
Juan Manuel Gutierrez Freire takes a right-footed shot, but it is saved.
Domingo Blanco takes a right-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Shot by Fernando Aurelio Roman Villalba with his left foot results in a goal.
Cesar Ignacio Perez Maldonado takes a right-footed shot but misses.
assist: César Pérez
Goal! Cesar Ignacio Perez Maldonado scores to make it 1-0.
Jeronimo RussoYellow CardYellow card shown to Jeronimo Russo.
Juan Manuel Gutierrez Freire takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Lautaro Rios takes a shot with his head, but it's blocked.
Juan Ignacio Ramirez Polero takes a shot with his right foot, but it's saved.
Corner awarded.
Shot by Martin Ortega with his left foot is saved.
Martin Ortega takes a left-footed shot, but it's saved.
Lautaro Rios attempts a left-footed shot but misses.
Facundo Guch takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Offside.
Bruno Cabrera attempts a header but misses the shot.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Domingo Blanco comes on for Agustin Hausch.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Offside.
Kick-off! The referee is Alvaro Carranza.
Defensa y Justicia and Newell's Old Boys meet in a tight Liga Profesional 2nd Phase clash where three points could meaningfully shift both sides' standing in the table. Neither team has set the competition alight, making this a nervy, competitive fixture where fine margins will decide it.
