Unión grab a point but miss chance to pull clear at the top | OneFootball

Unión and Independiente Rivadavia played an emotion-filled duel on April 15, which ended in a 2-2 draw, leaving Tatengue with a bitter-sweet taste. Leonardo Madelón's team made a great effort, played a fantastic match, but could not secure the three points that would have given them a clearer lead at the top of Zone A of the Professional League Cup.

The draw keeps them at the top thanks to Barracas Central's defeat against Sarmiento, although the outlook remains open because Boca, Central Córdoba, and Banfield could catch up at the end of matchday 9.

A frantic start and a cold shower

From the start, Unión came out determined: they pressed high, sought to tilt the game to the right with the projections of Lautaro Vargas and the partnership he formed with Julián Palacios. Even the full-back had the first clear chance with a dangerous cross that tested goalkeeper Exequiel Centurión.

Just when they were at their best, a perfect counterattack from Lepra surprised them at 11 minutes: a slip in the defense resulted in a cross from Matías Fernández, and in the attempt to clear, Mauro Pittón ended up scoring an own goal. A 0-1 that set off alarms at April 15.

The home team looked nervous, imprecise, and with few ideas to penetrate the Mendoza defensive block, which bet on the counter with the power of Sebastián Villa and the aerial prowess of Álex Arce. However, at 40’, a corner kick found Amarfil's extended hand, reviewed by VAR. Referee Echavarría awarded a penalty and Cristian Tarragona converted it into a 1-1 with a great finish.

Goal and reaction, but Arce struck again

The second half showed a more determined Unión. Just at the start of the second half, a cross from the right ended with a misfortune from Iván Villalba, who in his eagerness to clear it, put it in his own goal for Tatengue's 2-1.

The euphoria didn't last long: at 18’, a frontal cross found Arce, who with an impeccable header scored the 2-2. The Paraguayan striker, always dangerous, complicated things every time he got into action.

A back and forth ending

Madelón made changes with the entries of Profini and Solari to gain air in the midfield, but the match became blow for blow. Tarragona, with great effort, had a clear chance that just went over. Minutes later, a header from Palavecino forced a spectacular save from Centurión, and in the reply, it was Tagliamonte who saved against Arce.

In the final stretch, Unión pushed with the crowd and generated approaches with Vargas and Del Blanco on the wings, although without precision in the final blow. Lepra could also have won it at the end, but failed in the finish.

It was a fantastic, intense and changing match, where Unión let slip the chance to pull away at the top. The draw, however, keeps them as leaders and keeps them in the qualifying zone, although with the anger of not having been able to take advantage of Barracas' fall.

Tate, who was on the rise with two consecutive victories, will have to validate in the next matchday the good things they showed on April 15, in a championship that promises a tight finish until the end.

Line-ups of Unión and Independiente Rivadavia

Unión: 1-Matías Tagliamonte; 35-Lautaro Vargas, 2-Maizon Rodríguez, 13-Valentín Fascendini, 11-Mateo Del Blanco; 20-Julián Palacios, 30-Mauro Pittón, 16-Mauricio Martínez, 7-Franco Fragapane;25- Cristian Tarragona and 19-Marcelo Estigarribia. DT: Leonardo Madelón.

Independiente Rivadavia: 1-Ezequiel Centurión; 2-Leonard Costa, 40-Iván Villalba, 42-Sheyko Studer; 36-Ezequiel Bonifacio, 25-Maximiliano Amarfil, 5-Tomás Bottari, 14-Luciano Gómes; 26-Matías Fernández; 22-Sebastián Villa and 9-Álex Arce. DT: Alfredo Berti.

Goals: PT 11′ Mauro Pittón, own goal (IR) and 41′ Cristian Tarragona, penalty (U); ST 8′ Iván Villalba, own goal (U) and 18′ Alex Arce (IR).

Substitutions: ST 16′ Kevin Retamar x Costa (IR); Rafael Profini x Martínez (U) and Augusto Solari x Palacios (U); 24′ Mauricio Cardillo x Amarfil (IR); 27′ Palavecino x Fragapane (U); 35′ Fabrizio Sartori x M. Fernández (IR); Pedro Souto x Bonifacio (IR) and Mauro Peinipil x Gómez (IR); 41′ Diego Armando Díaz x Estigarribia (U).

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.