Gimnasia La Plata Secures 2-1 Away Victory Against Unión Santa Fe
Puntos Clave
- Gimnasia's clinical first half proves decisive — Goals from Manuel Panaro (18') and Enzo Martínez's header (24') off Barros Schelotto's corner delivery gave the visitors a two-goal cushion before the half-hour mark. That early efficiency proved to be the difference in the final result.
- Palavecino substitution sparks Unión's response — The halftime introduction of Nicolás Palavecino for Franco Fragapane injected life into the hosts, leading to Tarragona's 53rd-minute finish from Palacios's cross. However, the comeback fell one goal short despite sustained pressure.
- Physicality defines the contest — Six yellow cards across both halves reflected the intensity, with bookings coming in clusters. Gimnasia's ability to stay disciplined defensively while managing the match's edge—particularly after Barros Schelotto and Fascendini were cautioned late—secured the away three points.
Rosario, Santa Fe — Gimnasia La Plata showcased their clinical finishing and defensive resilience to secure a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Unión Santa Fe at the 15 de Abril Stadium on Monday. The visitors built a commanding first-half lead through goals from Manuel Panaro and Enzo Martínez before weathering a second-half comeback attempt from the hosts.
Gimnasia wasted no time establishing control, breaking the deadlock in the 18th minute when Manuel Panaro found the net with a right-footed shot from very close range. The early goal energized the away side, who continued to press forward with purpose. Their attacking intent was rewarded again in the 24th minute when Enzo Martínez doubled the advantage with a well-placed header from the center of the box to the bottom left corner, converting Nicolás Barros Schelotto's precise cross following a corner kick.
The match intensified as tempers flared before halftime, with three yellow cards shown in quick succession. Mauricio Martínez was cautioned in the 26th minute, followed by Enzo Martínez just two minutes later. Augusto Max also entered the referee's book in first-half stoppage time, reflecting the growing tension on the field. Unión made a tactical adjustment at the break, introducing Nicolás Palavecino for Franco Fragapane in search of a spark.
The substitution paid dividends for the home side, who pulled a goal back in the 53rd minute. Cristian Tarragona fired a right-footed shot from the center of the box to the high center of the goal after connecting with Julián Palacios's cross. The crowd erupted as Unión suddenly found themselves back in contention, creating a palpable atmosphere of anticipation for a potential comeback.
As Unión pushed forward in search of an equalizer, the match grew increasingly physical. Barros Schelotto, who earlier provided the assist for Gimnasia's second goal, received a yellow card in the 83rd minute, followed by Valentín Fascendini just a minute later. Diego Díaz, who had replaced the influential Palacios in the 77th minute, struggled to replicate his predecessor's creative impact as Gimnasia reorganized defensively to protect their advantage.
Despite a determined effort from Unión in the closing stages, including a final caution for Nelson Insfrán deep in stoppage time, Gimnasia's defensive organization proved sufficient to secure all three points. The visitors celebrated enthusiastically at the final whistle, having demonstrated both attacking quality and defensive resilience to earn a valuable away victory. For Unión, the second-half improvement offered encouragement despite the disappointing result on home soil.