Kimberley Mar del Plata secured a 3-1 victory over Cipolletti in the Winners Stage of Torneo Federal A on Saturday evening. The result keeps the hosts in fourth place with nine points from six matches, while Cipolletti drop further adrift in sixth with eight from five games. and here's the thing — the match had all the hallmarks of a tight contest until the second half opened its doors.
Cipolletti took an early shock lead when F. Manas converted a penalty in the 87th minute, but Kimberley had already built their advantage. Goals from F. Russo (60'), T. Loscalso (64') and A. Almiron (74') settled the tie before the visitors could mount any serious response. by then the momentum had shifted decisively, and the hosts were simply too sharp in front of goal.
The statistics tell a familiar story. Kimberley dominated possession at 61 per cent and registered 90 attacks compared to 79 for Cipolletti. But it was the quality of chances that mattered — eight shots on target against just two, and 13 corners to two. to be fair the visitors had their moments, but they couldn't find the cutting edge when it counted.
Substitutions shaped the flow of the game. B. Obregon and G. Lucero came on together at half-time, while V. Manchafico and J. Zarate were introduced in the second period. Cipolletti's manager threw bodies into the box after going behind, but the home defence held firm. Six yellow cards for the visitors showed their frustration.
This result ends Cipolletti's brief run of three consecutive wins without a defeat. They had beaten Argentino Monte Maïs and Huracán Las Heras in succession, but the away trip to Kimberley proved too difficult. The hosts meanwhile extend their unbeaten streak at home to two matches, having drawn with Círculo Deportivo earlier this month.
The gap between the sides in the table remains narrow — just one point separates fourth and sixth place. But Kimberley's ability to control games and finish chances gives them a psychological edge. and here's the thing about football: results like this matter more than the numbers on paper.