1'On an afternoon of huge anticipation, a lively start: the team press high and the opponent try not to give it away.
2'The home side stretch the pitch and make the away side chase shadows. The weather is playing its part.
5'Possession belongs to the away side, although for now there's no real bite around the box. The next one could be decisive.
8'Inswinging corner from the away side; the keeper comes and punches, and the danger is gone. Two passes, open space and a dagger to the heart.
9'🎯 Cataldo Caponi carries the ball forward...
9'...shapes to shoot from outside the box...
9'A teammate is face to face with goal and finishes quickly before the gap closes.
12'Gustavo Ríos unleashes a left-footer; the keeper flies across and can only watch it go by.
14'It's end to end now; great for the neutral, heart-attack stuff for the managers.
16'The away side make life hard for themselves with a sloppy pass in behind the holding midfielder. The second half promises a different story.
18'Noé Sevilla goes in hard hugging the touchline and the referee gives the foul.
18'🟨 Yellow card for the defender; now it's a case of playing with a calculator.
23'The away side prepare a training-ground routine from the corner. Tactical awareness is counting for more and more.
25'The keeper and the opposing defender get their wires crossed; that nearly became a collector's-item blooper.
27'The away side put the game to sleep between the lines, trying to tempt the home side out of their shell. The managers are already taking notes.
28'A set piece could unlock this one: corner to the away side. The small details could decide this.
29'The player goes over to the corner flag, places the ball and watches the movement in the box.
30'Scuffed shot from Noé Sevilla; not pretty, but it still caused problems.
31'Possession belongs to the home side, although for now there's no real bite around the box. That was one of those moments that changes the pulse of a game.
34'The ball moves safely between the the away side shirts; what's missing is a bit of pace in the final third.
35'Luciano Curi darts in behind and Cataldo Caponi plays the striker in with a superb ball.
39'⚡ Gustavo Ríos wins it in his own half and breaks at speed...
39'...the counter is lethal, Gustavo Ríos runs the length of the pitch...
39'...slips in Facundo Foyth, who has arrived through the middle...
39'...Facundo Foyth finishes first time...
39'⚽ ⚽ GOOOOOAL! GOAL, GOAL, GOAL! Facundo Foyth puts it away. 1-0.
41'Interception by the home side hugging the touchline; good pressure and even better reading of the game.
44'🛡️ The defence clears the danger and keeps the ball.
45'The away side manage the ball right on the edge, shifting the home side from side to side.
46'With plenty to put right, the players head for the dressing room with their heads full of instructions. There's still a game on here.
50'The away side win it back near the opposition box; a clear sign of the high press. Nobody wants to give anything away.
53'Martín Ripa takes charge of midfield and brings a bit of order to the chaos. There'll be plenty to analyse.
54'The home side are camped in the opposition half and force them to kick it out.
55'The home side stretch the pitch and make the away side chase shadows.
62'The away side carve the defence open with a surgical touch from Noé Sevilla. The story is only just beginning.
63'It fell perfectly for Kiki Páez, who hit it with heart and boot.
67'Coordinated pressing: one closes down, another blocks the lane and the third wins it. The next one could be decisive.
70'Julián Aizpurua accelerates in behind the centre-back and the counter starts to take shape.
73'The away side put the game to sleep in the inside channel, trying to tempt the home side out of their shell. The weather is playing its part.
77'Enrique Weber accelerates in behind the centre-back and the counter starts to take shape.
79'Deadly counter from the home side: few touches, lots of space and a whiff of danger. This one could go either way.
83'Luciano Curi slows things down, puts a foot on the ball and waits for a path to open.
88'The home side have the ball, but the away side close the spaces as best they can.
90'Amid applause and shared frustration, that's the end of the match; now it's down to the table, the dressing room and some self-reflection.
1 - 0Círculo Balvanera