In a captivating encounter at the Coloso del Parque, Defensa y Justicia triumphed 3-2 over Newell’s, thanks to two crucial goals from forward Juan Bautista Miritello. The match, part of the Apertura’s fourth round, showcased the tactical prowess of Defensa under the guidance of coach Mariano Soso, who set the team up in a solid 3-4-3 formation.
Miritello opened the scoring early in the match with a goal at the 31st minute of the first half, and shortly after, Ayrton Portillo added a second goal for Defensa in the 18th minute of the second half. Despite a valiant effort from Newell’s, who made significant attempts to turn the tide with goals from Matías Cóccaro in the 76th minute and Oscar Salomón in the 52nd minute, they ultimately fell short of clinching a draw.
Newell’s displayed a more aggressive offensive strategy, attempting 19 shots, including 7 on target, but they could not find the equalizer. Miritello’s standout performance not only earned him the match’s best player accolade but also highlighted his impressive form, which included 2 shots on goal.
Also making a significant impact was Ayrton Portillo, contributing with a goal that proved vital in securing the win for Defensa y Justicia.
On the tactical side, Newell’s coach, Favio Orsi, deployed a 4-5-1 formation featuring Gabriel Arias in goal, with a defensive line composed of Armando Méndez, Saúl Salcedo, Oscar Salomón, and Martín Luciano. The midfield was reinforced with Rodrigo Herrera, Jerónimo Gómez Mattar, Facundo Guch, Matías Cóccaro, and Walter Nuñez, while Luciano Herrera led the attack.
For Defensa y Justicia, Soso’s strategic choices shone through, fielding a lineup of Cristopher Fiermarín in goal, supported by Lucas Souto, Emiliano Amor, and Damián Fernández in defense, complemented by Ayrton Portillo, Santiago Sosa Yung, Aarón Molinas, and Samuel Lucero in midfield, and a forward trio of Rubén Botta, Juan Bautista Miritello, and Juan Manuel Gutiérrez.
The match, officiated by referee Felipe Viola, kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle.
As for their next fixtures, Newell’s will be looking to bounce back in their upcoming match against Dep. Riestra, while Defensa y Justicia is set to face Vélez in what promises to be another exciting clash.
Substitutions in Newell’s
- 45’ 2T – Martín Luciano out for Jerónimo Russo, Jerónimo Gómez Mattar out for David Sotelo, and Luciano Herrera out for Michael Hoyos
- 70’ 2T – Walter Nuñez out for Franco García
- 85’ 2T – Facundo Guch out for Juan Ignacio Ramírez
Yellow Cards in Newell’s:
- 12’ 1T – Jerónimo Gómez Mattar (Unsporting behavior)
- 42’ 1T – Martín Luciano (Unsporting behavior)
- 23’ 2T – Rodrigo Herrera (Holding the opponent to prevent advancement)
- 35’ 2T – Saúl Salcedo (Insulting or disapproving the referee)
Substitutions in Defensa y Justicia
- 64’ 2T – Rubén Botta out for Facundo Altamira
- 72’ 2T – Juan Bautista Miritello out for Agustín Hausch and Santiago Sosa Yung out for Ever Banega
- 90’ 2T – Aarón Molinas out for Julián López and Juan Manuel Gutiérrez out for David Fernández
Yellow Card in Defensa y Justicia:
- 48’ 2T – Ever Banega (Unsporting behavior)