Sportivo Belgrano R Norte and Unión Palermo Hollywood shared the spoils in an afternoon of goals and excitement on the home side's pitch, in what was an attacking spectacle where both teams renounced defensive caution. The 3-3 draw on matchday 19 of the Primera L de CABA left both sides with that bittersweet feeling of having left points on the table. With identical 4-4-2 formations and balanced mindsets, the match unfolded as a constant end-to-end affair where the midfielders found no defensive foothold and the striking pairs had fertile ground to work in.
Gabi Castelo was the dynamo of the home side, making the most of his experience on the left wing to create sustained danger. At 22, the Mendoza winger showed why he is one of Belgrano's standout performers this campaign: he took the ball with the assurance of someone who knows the trade and did not hesitate to go for goal when the chance arose. His goal and assist summed up his productive night. Forwards Santi Yedro and Santi Arazandi, with twenty years between them, made the most of the spaces the away defence left behind. Yedro, the 30-year-old veteran, knew how to be in the right places; Arazandi, barely an 18-year-old teenager who arrived from San Juan, showed he has the qualities to compete in this league. Olivier Pessina in midfield had a solid night, keeping the ball moving but without being able to close all the gaps he needed to. Yago Zazzaroni provided an assist in one of the attacking moves and picked up a yellow card that will teach him that Belgrano's right back role demands temperament.
Unión Palermo Hollywood did not come to sit back. Lucio Bottani, the 24-year-old centre-back who has been at the club only a few months, was a pleasant surprise: he not only brought security at the back but also scored and provided an assist, showing that he is a complete defender. Patricio Sifuentes, the Brazilian winger from Porto Alegre, played with ease in his area and found the net on a night when the away side allowed itself the luxury of attacking without too many scares. Lucho Beristain, barely a 19-year-old teenager from Bahía Blanca, got his goal and picked up a yellow card in his attempt to hold off the rivals. Pichu Kovaleski, the midfielder from Comodoro Rivadavia with plenty of experience, put in a solid shift, allowing the forwards to receive the ball.
What there was no shortage of was spectacle. Both teams quickly understood that the best defence was to attack more than the other side. The three goals apiece came at pace, with no great defensive pauses to catch a breath. Sportivo Belgrano finished by pressing in the final minutes in search of a favourable result, but Unión Palermo Hollywood held on with the resources available. The draw was fair, the product of a match where the attacking ambition of both sides outweighed any defensive tactical considerations. For ELDT, this leaves a clear reading: there is plenty of attack for the long haul, but the rearguard needs urgent adjustments if they want to aspire to something serious in this Primera L.
Sportivo Belgrano R Norte came in with 0 wins, 1 draw and 4 defeats in their last 5 matches.
Unión Palermo Hollywood came in with 2 wins, 0 draws and 3 defeats in their last 5 matches.
In the last meeting between Sportivo Belgrano R Norte and Unión Palermo Hollywood: 0 wins for Sportivo Belgrano R Norte, 1 draw and 0 for Unión Palermo Hollywood.
Full Sportivo Belgrano R Norte vs Unión Palermo Hollywood head-to-head →
Sportivo Belgrano R Norte (4-4-2): Gino Bilbao, Lauti Quintana, Kiki Arrarte, Stefano Resa, Yago Zazzaroni, Gabi Castelo, Alberto Braun, Olivier Pessina, Sasha Barbieri, Santi Arazandi, Santi Yedro.
Unión Palermo Hollywood (4-4-2): Iván Matos, Eric Zambelli, Lucho Beristain, Lucio Bottani, Benjamín Zuccotti, Gonzalo Ulloa, Milton Vitalini, Pichu Kovaleski, Patricio Sifuentes, Darío Valentini, Edu Leguizamón.
In Primera L - CABA, Sportivo Belgrano R Norte are in position 16 with 32 points; Unión Palermo Hollywood are in position 2 with 49 points. See the full table
Sportivo Belgrano R Norte ("Los kekes del acenso"), with 1,561 fans. Home ground: Estadio Belgrano.
Unión Palermo Hollywood, with 1,681 fans. Home ground: Estadio Unión Palermo Hollywood.
Next match for Sportivo Belgrano R Norte: vs su proximo rival — Sunday 1 November at 01:15 GMT
Next match for Unión Palermo Hollywood: vs su proximo rival — Sunday 1 November at 01:00 GMT
This match was played by two real managers on ELDT, the free online football manager game. Take your own club from the bottom all the way to the top flight.