Almagro claimed a hard-fought win against Sportivo Once Sur on matchday 12 of Primera L, in a match where balanced approaches left no room for surprises. The 1-0 was fair enough: both sides went for defensive solidity in a 4-4-2 shape, and the home goal ended up being the difference in a contest where nobody gave anything away.
Mauricio Altuna, a 29-year-old centre-back with that rare ability to be where he is needed most, was the man who broke the deadlock. Rating 7.2 and a goal to his name: not the numbers of a dazzling star, but of a centre-back who reads the game assuredly and takes his chance when it comes. Galo Cadel at left-back (7.6) was solid in defence, while Ramón Spadafora, 23, did the holding work in midfield that earned him a yellow card but also the comfort of knowing Almagro were not suffering opposition advances in that area. Walter Botti up front, at 29 and in the best physical shape of his career, had few clear chances but was decisive when the ball came where it should. Adrián Palomeque on the left (7.2) tried to create a difference from the wing without major success.
Sportivo Once Sur, with Manuel Belmonte in goal at 37 still in charge, could not trouble them seriously. Kevin Saavedra in the centre of defence posted a 6.7 rating, solid but unspectacular. Jorge Bonincontro as an attacking midfielder found no space to break the lines. It is the result of two sides who know each other well, who do not give the ball away, where football is played in the grey areas and the one who makes the smallest mistake loses. Almagro made one fewer, and that gave them the three points. For Sportivo Once Sur, an attacking debt to carry from here on.
Almagro came in with 1 win, 1 draw and 3 defeats in their last 5 matches.
Sportivo Once Sur came in with 3 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat in their last 5 matches.
In the last 2 meetings between Almagro and Sportivo Once Sur: 0 wins for Almagro, 1 draw and 1 for Sportivo Once Sur.
Almagro (4-4-2): Andrés Astudillo, Galo Cadel, Mauricio Altuna, Yoel Carrasco, Yair Jiménez, Adrián Palomeque, Dante Wolf, Ramon Spadafora, Nahuel Mora, Walter Botti, Turco Greenberg.
Sportivo Once Sur (4-4-2): Manuel Belmonte, Joaco Pollini, Lucio Aranguren, Kevin Saavedra, Mario Arce, Pichi González, Jorge Bonincontro, Cristian Iturbe, Nilo Rodríguez, Walter Bonaventura, Silvio Merlo.
In Primera L - GBA Oeste, Almagro are in position 8 with 42 points; Sportivo Once Sur are in position 3 with 46 points. See the full table
Almagro, with 1,687 fans. Home ground: Estadio Almagro.
Sportivo Once Sur, with 1,783 fans. Home ground: Estadio Sportivo Once Sur.
Next match for Almagro: vs su proximo rival — Sunday 1 November at 01:00 GMT
Next match for Sportivo Once Sur: vs su proximo rival — Friday 30 October at 18:45 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.