Godoy Cruz picked up two points on the road against San Miguel in the Primera Nacional, winning 2:1 on Saturday. The visitors moved up to sixth place with 43 points, while the hosts remained 16th on 27 points after 28 games each. By then the gap between them felt wider than the table suggested.
M. Pino opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 29th minute, but F. Cairus levelled before half-time with a goal in the 39th. Things came to a head after the break when Pino was sent off in the 64th minute, and B. Nasta picked up the winner for Godoy Cruz in the 76th. The captain dragged them through it once the numerical advantage swung their way.
We had called for the away win with 42 per cent confidence, and this time the call held. San Miguel had more attacks—152 to 112—and controlled 53 per cent of possession, but many shots went begging. They registered three shots on target and two off, while the visitors managed just two on target and three off, yet took their chances when it mattered.
To be fair, the match turned on three moments rather than sustained pressure. Pino's penalty gave the hosts hope, Cairus's equaliser steadied the game, and then the red card changed everything. Godoy Cruz didn't travel to make up the numbers, and once they were ahead they didn't look back.
The visitors extended an uneven run, winning three of their last five matches after a summer of mixed results. San Miguel have now lost four of their last five, with defeats to Deportivo Moron, Chaco For Ever, Colon Santa Fe, and Racing de Cordoba in that span. The academy graduate marked his first start with a goal, but the result tells a different story for the home side.
Godoy Cruz sit 16 points clear of the play-off places, while San Miguel stare at the drop with 10 losses already. The scoreline reflected a game decided by moments rather than dominance, and the visitors took what they needed from a difficult afternoon.