Argentino Monte Maíz and Olimpo de Bahía Blanca played out a 1-1 draw in the Winners Stage of the Torneo Federal A on Saturday. The result leaves both sides with a point each after what was a hard-fought contest. By then, the visitors had already established themselves as one of the form teams in the division.
I. Blangetti gave the hosts the lead in the 50th minute. It was a well-taken goal that shifted the momentum in their favour. And here's the thing — the home side had been camped in the final third for large stretches, but only now broke through.
C. Ibarra responded for Olimpo de Bahía Blanca with an equaliser in the 65th minute. The visitors never got out of second gear after that, keeping pressure on the home defence. To be fair, Argentino Monte Maíz had worked hard to build their advantage.
There were three substitutions around the 56th minute for the hosts, bringing on L. Lapetina and C. Amarilla alongside F. Gonzalez. M. Olivera followed in the 61st minute. F. Gonzalez and an unnamed opponent each received yellow cards in the second half.
The statistics tell a story of dominance without control. Argentino Monte Maíz registered 97 attacks compared to 70 from Olimpo de Bahía Blanca, and had 4 shots on target against 2. Yet the possession was split evenly at 50 percent each. Many shots with one goal means chances went begging.
The point keeps Olimpo de Bahía Blanca in second place with 11 points from six games. Argentino Monte Maíz remain seventh with just 5 points and have the deeper squad to fall back on now. That result ends a run of four games without a win for the hosts.