1'With both benches watching closely, the ball is in play; the team look for that first safe pass in the final third.
2'Horacio Belaustegui cuts the passing lane and starves the the home side attack of oxygen.
6'Horacio Belaustegui darts in behind and Quique Gutiérrez plays the striker in with a superb ball. You can feel the tension from early on.
7'🛡️ The defence clears the danger and keeps the ball.
9'Franco González slows things down, puts a foot on the ball and waits for a path to open. The home side are in a much better position after that.
10'🎯 Yoel Basile runs at goal and shapes to shoot...
10'...hits it with his left foot...
10'A teammate is face to face with goal and finishes quickly before the gap closes.
14'The keeper and the opposing defender get their wires crossed; that nearly became a collector's-item blooper. Two passes, open space and a dagger to the heart.
15'The home side make life hard for themselves with a sloppy pass on the edge of the box.
20'Possession belongs to the home side, although for now there's no real bite around the box.
21'Walter Stankovic goes in hard hugging the touchline and the referee gives the foul.
23'The home side put the game to sleep in the inside channel, trying to tempt the away side out of their shell.
24'Corner whipped to the penalty spot; the opposing defender wins it and clears long. The home side are in a much better position after that.
25'Tactical foul from Walter Stankovic; textbook stuff, although the referee is already keeping an eye on that one. The fans have already drawn their conclusions.
26'🎯 Gustavo De Luca runs at goal and shapes to shoot...
26'...hits it with his left foot...
26'Scuffed shot from Gustavo De Luca; not pretty, but it still caused problems. You can see the work done on the training ground this week.
30'The home side manage the ball without giving it away, shifting the away side from side to side.
31'The home side move it about sensibly, with Franco González as the side's compass.
32'A the opponent player is down after a heavy collision; play is stopped.
32'🟥 🟥 STRAIGHT RED! Maxi Rubinstein is sent off for a reckless challenge. His side are down to ten.
34'The the away side defence is split open by a poor decision.
36'Horacio Belaustegui accelerates in the final third and the counter starts to take shape.
37'The keeper and the opposing defender get their wires crossed; that nearly became a collector's-item blooper.
38'The ball moves safely between the the home side shirts; what's missing is a bit of pace in the final third.
40'Nene Aresti accelerates in the final third and the counter starts to take shape.
41'The away side have the ball, but the home side close the spaces as best they can.
43'Gino Trento goes in hard on the edge of the box and the referee gives the foul.
43'🟨 Gino Trento goes into the book; the next one could prove costly. The dressing room will have the final say.
46'Whistle and the break; the feeling is that the best is still to come.
47'Quique Gutiérrez arrives late and brings down a the opponent player; foul, no real argument.
47'🟨 Quique Gutiérrez went in hard and pays for it with a booking.
48'The home side carve the defence open with a surgical touch from Yoel Basile. It's being played with gritted teeth.
49'🎯 Gustavo De Luca carries the ball forward...
49'...shapes to shoot from outside the box...
49'Gustavo De Luca fires it across goal; the ball goes out kissing the post. The half-time team talk could tip the balance.
56'🎯 Sebastián Bossi runs at goal and shapes to shoot...
56'...hits it with his left foot...
56'Effort from a teammate hugging the touchline; it whistled past and left everyone with the shout stuck in their throats.
59'🎯 Gustavo De Luca carries the ball forward...
59'...shapes to shoot from outside the box...
59'The home side end the move with an effort that demands attention.
60'The away side move it about sensibly, with Mateo Barile as the side's compass.
61'The away side were trying to thread it through, but Yoel Basile closed the door.
63'The home side manage the ball without breaking sweat, shifting the away side from side to side.
64'The the away side press bites from inside their own half; the home side start to lose their clarity.
65'The away side manage the ball with an extra gear, shifting the home side from side to side.
66'The away side stretch the pitch and make the home side chase shadows. There's a lot riding on this.
67'Lautaro Bertini goes in hard on the edge of the box and the referee gives the foul.
67'🟨 Lautaro Bertini earns a booking for stopping a promising move. The managers are already taking notes.
68'Walter Stankovic strikes it first time and leaves the opponent gasping for air. Now the ball will do the talking.
72'Deft touch from Gustavo De Luca: the defence appealed for offside, but play goes on. The bench are living it like a final of their own.
73'The away side are camped in the opposition half and force them to kick it out.
75'Tactical foul from Gustavo De Luca; textbook stuff, although the referee is already keeping an eye on that one.
75'🟨 Fair booking: Gustavo De Luca was late and left a mark.
77'🎯 Eduardo Portillo carries the ball forward...
77'...shapes to shoot from outside the box...
77'Scuffed shot from Eduardo Portillo; not pretty, but it still caused problems.
79'The home side manage the ball with real authority, shifting the away side from side to side.
80'Toño Salvini drives forward into open space and a teammate bursts down the side.
81'The away side have the ball, but the home side close the spaces as best they can. The away side are in a much better position after that.
86'Toño Salvini wins it and releases it quickly; the home side race back to salvage what they can. The story is only just beginning.
90'With no margin left at all, the end of a story of nerves, fine details and plenty of physical football.