Leandro N. Alem — Mercedes, Primera C

Mercedes claimed a narrow 1-0 victory over Leandro N. Alem in the Primera C regular season on Sunday evening, the result decided by a single goal in the sixty-fourth minute. L. Amado's strike proved enough to lift the visitors away from defeat despite being outplayed for large spells. The win moves the visitors further clear of trouble in the lower half of the table, while the hosts remain rooted in twelfth place.

By then the match had settled into a pattern that suited the visitors more than the hosts. Leandro N. Alem controlled possession at forty-eight per cent and launched one hundred and nineteen attacks, but they picked up two bookings in five minutes when the game turned. Mercedes, with fifty-two per cent, camped in the final third for shorter bursts and made their one chance count.

The statistics tell a simple story. The home side registered six shots on target and thirteen wide, yet came away empty-handed. The visitors managed just two shots on target and converted one, while the rest of their attacking output amounted to little more than noise.

We had tipped the away side before kickoff, with forty per cent confidence in a Mercedes win. It proved a reasonable assessment, though the margin of victory suggests the hosts should have too much for them in future meetings if they improve their finishing.

The result leaves Leandro N. Alem on twenty-eight points from twenty-eight games, four points adrift of safety. Mercedes sit eighth with thirty-seven points, their position unchanged but their breathing space slightly wider after a hard-fought point.