1'With the stadium roaring, and we're off: the team come out with intent, the opponent sit deep and organised, and the story begins to unfold. You can see the work done on the training ground this week.
2'The away side manage the ball with an extra gear, shifting the home side from side to side.
4'Pichi Brandi slows things down, puts a foot on the ball and waits for a path to open.
8'Maximiliano Caetani goes in hard down by the corner flag and the referee gives the foul.
9'Tempers flaring a little: a heavy foul and several players come over to argue.
10'⚡ Zacarías Marchetti lifts his head in midfield...
10'...plays Julián Arrarte in with a sublime pass...
10'...Julián Arrarte takes a touch and bears down on the keeper...
10'...drives it across the keeper...
10'⚽ ⚽ GOOOOOAL! GOAL, GOAL, GOAL! Julián Arrarte roars with delight, under the keeper's body. 1-0.
11'Ramiro Olmedo nips in just before the ball reaches a teammate.
12'The home side manage the ball with good sense, shifting the away side from side to side.
13'Coco Aizaga drives forward into open space and a teammate bursts down the side. It's being played with gritted teeth.
14'Lito Rinaldi plays it back and starts again; sometimes going backwards is attacking too.
17'The home side press high and don't give the away side room to breathe. The next one could be decisive.
21'🛡️ The defence clears the danger and keeps the ball.
24'Yanis Andrea plays it back and starts again; sometimes going backwards is attacking too.
25'Cris Bevilacqua plays it back and starts again; sometimes going backwards is attacking too. The away side have to respond now.
26'A the opponent player is down after a heavy collision; play is stopped.
26'🟨 Sandro Mira protests too much and picks up an avoidable yellow.
27'The the away side press bites between the lines; the home side start to lose their clarity. The second half promises a different story.
33'Rubén Villar thinks a step ahead and finds Alejandro Pessina in the hot zone.
35'A the opponent player is down after a heavy collision; play is stopped.
35'🟨 Turco Zelaya protests too much and picks up an avoidable yellow.
38'The defender reads the pass and makes a crucial interception. Tactical awareness is counting for more and more.
41'Lito Rinaldi hits it from distance and the ball goes looking for the net.
44'The away side can't get near the ball; the home side keep it from them patiently.
46'As the heart rates come down, half-time: the manager will need to press a few buttons to change the course of this one. There'll be plenty to analyse.
48'The ball moves safely between the the home side shirts; what's missing is a bit of pace in the final third.
49'Scuffed shot from Cristian Castro; not pretty, but it still caused problems.
54'The opponent hang on as best they can; every clearance is cheered like half a goal.
55'Interception by the away side around the D; good pressure and even better reading of the game.
56'The away side have the ball, but the home side close the spaces as best they can.
58'🎯 Maximiliano Caetani runs at goal and shapes to shoot...
58'...hits it with his left foot...
58'The away side end the move with an effort that demands attention.
59'Octavio Klein plays it back and starts again; sometimes going backwards is attacking too. The dressing room will have the final say.
60'Deft touch from Cristian Castro: the defence appealed for offside, but play goes on.
61'Coordinated pressing: one closes down, another blocks the lane and the third wins it. Adjustments are on the way.
62'The away side make life hard for themselves with a sloppy pass down the left.
65'Mistake in the the away side build-up; the home side win it back and have space to hurt them. The managers are already taking notes.
68'A the opponent player is down after a heavy collision; play is stopped.
68'🟨 The referee shows a yellow and the team now have to tread carefully in that area. The ball is starting to burn.
73'Interception by the home side in the danger zone; good pressure and even better reading of the game.
74'The home side make life hard for themselves with a sloppy pass down the left.
78'🎯 Yoel Basili carries the ball forward...
78'...shapes to shoot from outside the box...
78'Yoel Basili strikes it first time and leaves the opponent gasping for air.
79'The home side make life hard for themselves with a sloppy pass in behind the holding midfielder.
80'The away side stretch the pitch and make the home side chase shadows.
83'Quick transition: Pichi Brandi looks up and searches for the right pass.
90'With tiredness written all over them, the end of a story of nerves, fine details and plenty of physical football.
1 - 0
MCD