1'On an afternoon of huge anticipation, and we're off: the team come out with intent, the opponent sit deep and organised, and the story begins to unfold. Tactical awareness is counting for more and more.
3'⚡ Vicente Iriarte wins it in his own half and breaks at speed...
3'...the counter is lethal, Vicente Iriarte runs the length of the pitch...
3'...slips in Darío Zanforlin, who has arrived through the middle...
3'...Darío Zanforlin finishes first time...
3'⚽ ⚽ GOOOOOOOAL! Darío Zanforlin puts it away. 1-0.
7'The home side launch a textbook counter-attack, the kind the gaffer drills all week long. The story is only just beginning.
9'The home side put the game to sleep in behind the holding midfielder, trying to tempt the away side out of their shell.
11'The away side put the game to sleep down by the corner flag, trying to tempt the home side out of their shell.
12'The away side put the game to sleep from inside their own half, trying to tempt the home side out of their shell.
13'Coordinated pressing: one closes down, another blocks the lane and the third wins it.
14'The home side put the game to sleep in behind the holding midfielder, trying to tempt the away side out of their shell.
16'Deft touch from Claudio Bressan: the defence appealed for offside, but play goes on.
17'The away side win it back near the opposition box; a clear sign of the high press.
19'Venomous through ball from Franco Versace; the home side were caught cold.
20'The defender commits a foul just as a teammate was starting to break clear.
20'🟨 Darío Zanforlin goes into the book; the next one could prove costly. There's a lot riding on this.
21'The the home side block sets up high; this is risky, but it's ambitious too.
22'The home side manage the ball with all the know-how, shifting the away side from side to side. The result will give everyone plenty to chew on.
23'The home side move it about sensibly, with Mario Buffoli as the side's compass.
24'The the away side press bites hugging the touchline; the home side start to lose their clarity. It's being played with gritted teeth.
26'Turco Zalla plays it back and starts again; sometimes going backwards is attacking too. The small details could decide this.
27'Claudio Bressan wins it and releases it quickly; the away side race back to salvage what they can. The small details could decide this.
28'The home side make life hard for themselves with a sloppy pass down the left.
29'The away side have the ball, but the home side close the spaces as best they can. There's still a game on here.
36'Darío Zanforlin arrives late and brings down a the opponent player; foul, no real argument.
37'Enzo Braun takes charge of midfield and brings a bit of order to the chaos. Two passes, open space and a dagger to the heart.
38'The away side manage the ball street-football style, shifting the home side from side to side.
39'🛡️ The defence clears the danger and keeps the ball.
41'The home side manage the ball with good sense, shifting the away side from side to side.
42'Tempers flaring a little: a heavy foul and several players come over to argue.
42'🟨 Yellow card for the defender; now it's a case of playing with a calculator. This one could go either way.
43'Lionel Grilli hits it from distance and the ball goes looking for the net.
44'The away side manage the ball with no messing about, shifting the home side from side to side.
45'Hector Aragón arrives late and brings down a the opponent player; foul, no real argument.
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.
52'The away side put the game to sleep on the edge of the box, trying to tempt the home side out of their shell. The fans have already drawn their conclusions.
53'Interception by the home side on the edge of the box; good pressure and even better reading of the game.
57'Darío Paván threads it through where not even air could get in; clear chance for the home side.
58'🎯 Darío Zanforlin carries the ball forward...
58'...shapes to shoot from outside the box...
58'Effort from a teammate in the final third; it whistled past and left everyone with the shout stuck in their throats. The managers are already taking notes.
60'The away side manage the ball with all the know-how, shifting the home side from side to side. Time to look forward now.
61'The the home side press bites from inside their own half; the away side start to lose their clarity.
64'The home side carve the defence open with a surgical touch from Hector Aragón.
65'Turco Zalla goes in hard right in front of the dugouts and the referee gives the foul. That was one of those moments that changes the pulse of a game.
69'The home side put the game to sleep in the danger zone, trying to tempt the away side out of their shell. There's still a game on here.
71'Possession belongs to the home side, although for now there's no real bite around the box. You can feel the tension in every yard.
72'⚡ The opposition make a mess of playing out from the back...
72'...Federico Gómez pounces on the gift...
72'...and he's one-on-one with the keeper...
72'...places it at the far post...
72'⚽ ⚽ WHAT A GOAAAL! Federico Gómez puts it away. 2-0.
73'Interception by the home side down the right; good pressure and even better reading of the game.
75'The home side stretch the pitch and make the away side chase shadows. Nobody wants to give anything away.
76'Darío Zanforlin thinks a step ahead and finds Vicente Iriarte in the hot zone. The fans have already drawn their conclusions.
77'⚡ Darío Zanforlin plays it short to Federico Gómez...
77'...Federico Gómez returns it first time...
77'...Darío Zanforlin completes the one-two and he's clean through...
77'...Federico Gómez shoots...
77'⚽ ⚽ GOOOOOOOAL! Federico Gómez wheels away in celebration. 3-0.
78'Ramon Del Castillo accelerates on the edge of the box and the counter starts to take shape.
83'The team end the move with an effort that demands attention. There's still a game on here.
84'The opposing defender misjudges the bounce and leaves a highly dangerous ball alive.
87'The the home side defence is split open by a poor decision. You can feel the tension from early on.
90'Amid applause and shared frustration, it's over: the result is written, but the analysis is only just beginning.