Deportivo Rincon edged past Juventus Unida 1:0 in their Losers Stage-5 encounter of the Torneo Federal A on Sunday evening. The victory moves the hosts closer to securing their position, while the visitors' hopes of advancement take a significant hit. Both sides entered the match knowing a result was needed to progress.
The turning point came early in the second half when two visitors were reduced to ten men within a minute. F. Noguera was sent off in the 57th minute, followed by J. Benenatti's dismissal in the 58th. Those red cards, recorded in the match statistics against the away side, shifted the balance considerably.
Deportivo Rincon made the most of their numerical advantage. F. Cruz broke the deadlock in the 90th minute plus two, firing home to give the hosts what would prove to be a decisive lead. The goal came against the run of play, with both teams registering zero shots on target throughout the contest.
The statistics tell a sparse story. Possession sat at 0.5 for each side, corners were nil-nil, and neither team managed to test the goalkeeper with a shot on target. It was a match decided by discipline and a single moment of quality rather than sustained pressure.
Deportivo Rincon move up to second place with 11 points from six games, their record now reading three wins, two draws and one defeat. Juventus Unida remain seventh on seven points, with two victories, a draw and three losses to their name. The gap between them widens as the stage progresses.