Atenas secured a narrow victory over Kimberley Mar-del-Plata with a 2:1 win in the Winners Stage of the Torneo Federal A on Wednesday. The hosts held firm despite a late scare when Kimberley equalised before P. Oballes struck in stoppage time to seal all three points.
A. Mainero gave Atenas the lead in the 55th minute, capitalising on a moment of space in the penalty area. Kimberley responded with a determined display, and H. Sosa pulled one back in the 88th minute after a period of sustained pressure. The home side had been managing the game well until that point.
and here's the thing about matches like this — they often come down to who takes their chance when it matters. Oballes' late goal meant Atenas kept their clean-sheet run going while extending their unbeaten sequence to three games. The visitors had looked comfortable for most of the second half, but football has a way of turning.
The statistics tell an interesting story. Both teams registered 118 attacks, yet Atenas managed seven shots on target compared to Kimberley's two. Possession split 46:54 in favour of the visitors, but they couldn't convert that advantage into clear opportunities. To be fair, the home side were efficient with what they created.
Atenas now sit third on 10 points from six matches, with three wins, a draw and two defeats. Kimberley remain in fourth place on nine points, having won three and lost three without a single draw. The gap between them is just one point, and this result could prove significant as the stage progresses.
Five yellow cards were shown during the encounter, with the hosts collecting three and the visitors two. The game saw seven substitutions across both sides, with the hosts making changes to protect their lead in the final quarter. By then, the momentum had shifted decisively.