In a thrilling encounter at Estadio el Bosque, Gimnasia secured a 1-0 victory over Independiente during round 3 of the tournament. Gastón Suso’s header in the 23rd minute marked the only goal of the match, sealing the win for the home side.
Suso found the back of the net after a well-placed pass from Juan Pintado, connecting perfectly with a decisive header from the edge of the penalty area.
Independiente dominated possession, holding the ball for 68% of the match, yet they struggled to convert this advantage into goals, unable to equalize against a resilient Gimnasia defense.
Man of the Match, Gastón Suso, not only scored the crucial goal but also cleared 11 dangerous balls, showcasing his defensive prowess.
For Independiente, Felipe Loyola was instrumental, completing 76 accurate passes, regaining possession 4 times, and attempting 2 shots on goal, further demonstrating his quality.
Gimnasia’s head coach, Alejandro Orfila, set up a 4-4-2 formation with Nelson Insfrán in goal; a defense comprised of Juan Pintado, Renzo Giampaoli, Gastón Suso, and Pedro Silva Torrejón; and a midfield that included Manuel Panaro, Mateo Seoane, Nicolás Garayalde, and Jeremías Merlo, supporting strikers Norberto Briasco and Marcelo Torres.
On the other hand, Julio César Vaccari’s Independiente deployed a 4-3-3 lineup, featuring Rodrigo Rey in goal; a defensive line of Leonardo Godoy, Kevin Lomónaco, Nicolás Freire, and Facundo Zabala; and a midfield consisting of Felipe Loyola, Iván Marcone, and Luciano Cabral, with Walter Mazzantti, Gabriel Ávalos, and Santiago Montiel leading the attack.
Referee Yael Falcón Pérez officiated the match, making key decisions throughout a hard-fought game.
Next up, Gimnasia will visit Godoy Cruz, while Independiente will take on River Plate at Estadio Libertadores de América.
Substitutions for Gimnasia
58’ – Marcelo Torres was replaced by Augusto Max
66’ – Norberto Briasco was substituted off for Jorge de Asís and Nicolás Garayalde for Leandro Mamut
69’ – Jeremías Merlo made way for Alan Sosa
Yellow Cards for Gimnasia
7’ – Norberto Briasco (Unsportsmanlike conduct), 41’ – Nicolás Garayalde (Repeated fouls), 6’ – Renzo Giampaoli (Holding an opponent to prevent advancement), 34’ – Juan Pintado (Holding an opponent), 38’ – Mateo Seoane (Unsportsmanlike conduct), and 46’ – Jorge de Asís (Unsportsmanlike conduct)
Substitutions for Independiente
59’ – Iván Marcone was substituted by Pablo Galdames and Facundo Zabala for Milton Valenzuela
71’ – Santiago Montiel off for Diego Tarzia and Walter Mazzantti for Ignacio Pussetto
86’ – Leonardo Godoy replaced by Federico Mancuello
Yellow Cards for Independiente
12’ – Nicolás Freire (Unsportsmanlike conduct) and 46’ – Leonardo Godoy (Unsportsmanlike conduct)