In a match that offered little in the way of thrills but did deliver its share of intensity, Sportivo Belgrano R Norte and N. Estrella Almagro shared the points on a matchday in which both sides showed tidy circulation of the ball but not quite enough spark to break the deadlock. The 4-4-2 formation was the choice of both managers, a bet on defensive solidity that took precedence over any risky attacking intent. At Belgrano’s pitch, the visitors arrived with the clear intention of not suffering too much and taking something from the game, while the home side looked to use their status as hosts to tip the balance in their favour.
Stefano Resa, the centre-back for Sportivo Belgrano R Norte, was the man who broke the deadlock in the first half with a goal that came when a clear finish was least expected. At just 26 years of age and with a rating of 7.2, the defender from Comodoro Rivadavia did what he does best: being where he needed to be at the right moment. Over the years, Resa has learned to be effective at both ends of the game, and on this occasion his positioning allowed him to capitalise on a chance inside the box. The goal seemed to settle the contest in favour of the home side, who were controlling the tempo without any major scares.
However, Renzo Gordon, the N. Estrella Almagro forward with 29 years behind him, had another story to tell. With a rating of 7.2, Gordon is one of those players who keeps his hunger intact, who knows that every minute on the pitch is valuable and can change a result. At some point in the match, the forward managed to level things up, finding the net to make it 1-1 and seal the final score. Gordon, who keeps fond memories of his debut, once again showed that at 29 he remains a significant force in attack.
Alberto Braun, the Argentine midfielder for Sportivo Belgrano R Norte, was shown a yellow card during the match, a booking that sums up his display: intense, at times hurried, but dependable. At 22 years of age and with a rating of 7.1, Braun remains at that stage where he is learning to pace himself without losing the aggression that defines him. Iván Cacciatore, the visitors’ right-back, provided an assist that showed his ability to create from defence, a quality that at 21 points to a bright future in his position.
The draw was fair in general terms. Belgrano R Norte failed to turn their superiority on the ball into a winning margin, while Estrella Almagro, with a balanced mindset, took a valuable point from a difficult pitch. Both teams met their immediate aims: the home side avoided defeat at home, the visitors did not fold. In the Primera Liga CABA, on this matchday 18, the 1-1 draw left both sides with mixed feelings, as so often happens when parity dominates the afternoon.
Sportivo Belgrano R Norte came in with 1 win, 0 draws and 4 defeats in their last 5 matches.
N. Estrella Almagro came in with 0 wins, 3 draws and 2 defeats in their last 5 matches.
In the last meeting between Sportivo Belgrano R Norte and N. Estrella Almagro: 0 wins for Sportivo Belgrano R Norte, 1 draw and 0 for N. Estrella Almagro.
Full Sportivo Belgrano R Norte vs N. Estrella Almagro 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.
N. Estrella Almagro (4-4-2): Saúl Cerda, Leonardo Zanchetta, Cristian Altuna, Horacio Saborido, Iván Cacciatore, Augusto Zurita, Horacio Negrete, Giuliano Garrido, Franco Rosa, Ignacio Sperandio, Renzo Gordon.
In Primera L - CABA, Sportivo Belgrano R Norte are in position 16 with 32 points; N. Estrella Almagro are in position 7 with 41 points. See the full table
Sportivo Belgrano R Norte ("Los kekes del acenso"), with 1,561 fans. Home ground: Estadio Belgrano.
N. Estrella Almagro, with 1,655 fans. Home ground: Estadio N. Estrella Almagro.
Next match for Sportivo Belgrano R Norte: vs su proximo rival — Sunday 1 November at 01:15 GMT
Next match for N. Estrella Almagro: 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.