Union San Martin Azcuenaga loses 2-1 to Catamarca FC

Union San Martin Azcuenaga lost 2-1 as a visitor against Catamarca FC, at the municipal stadium of Caleta Olivia, for the fifth and penultimate round of the Federal C tournament's zone 4.

With this result, USMA, who was already qualified for the next stage, lost their undefeated record and was caught by Deportivo Sarmiento at the top. Therefore, despite the victory, the Caleta Olivia team was left without a chance of qualifying with one match left to play in the regular phase.

The home team started determined to open the score as quickly as possible, and during the first few minutes, Rody Coronado's team exerted high pressure and tried to unsettle the opponent in the penalty area, but they failed to finish the plays properly.

Although the first clear opportunity belonged to the visitors, with a shot from Leonardo Dominguez that went just over the bar, it was the home team who took initiative in a dull first half, and on a field that didn't help much.

Milton Ahmed was the most dangerous player for the Caleta Olivia team because he managed to unsettle the defense of the "Patricios" every time he had the opportunity, considering that their synchronization failed at times.

Ahmed had a chance at the 19th minute when he missed a close-range shot; at the 27th minute, with a shot that went over the bar after a misunderstanding between Nicolas Romero and Nicolas Gonzalez; and at the 48th minute, with a shot that went out for a corner after goalkeeper Juan Pablo Celone was left without a reaction in the small area. After the corner kick, a header from Franco Carpio went wide and the whistle marking the end of the first half came.

In the second half, Catamarca maintained the initiative and had several chances to open the score before the 30-minute mark, but only at that point did they achieve their goal when Ahmed was left alone in front of Celone and "shot" to celebrate the 1-0.

USMA improved a lot with the entry of Eric Castro, who equalized with a free-kick at the 46th minute when there had already been three expulsions: Maximiliano Molina for the home team (37th minute), Jorge Lasso for the visitors (42nd minute), and Denis Orquera for the home team (45th minute).

However, Catamarca achieved the dramatic victory with a penalty goal by Ahmed at the 50th minute, after Carpio was fouled in the penalty area following a corner kick.

It wasn't enough for the Caleta Olivia team, who said goodbye to the tournament alongside Ever Ready. The "Patricios" and the "Depo," both representatives of the Comodoro Rivadavia League, will reach the last round competing - each on their own - for first place, but not for qualification.

Synopsis

2 Catamarca FC: Daniel Miranda; Franco Carpio, José Amusategui, Kevin González, and Franco Brizuela; Mauro Alvarez, Gabriel Vergara, Santiago Molina, and Leonardo Hernández; Milton Ahmed and Enzo Quiroga. Coach: Rody Coronado.

1 USMA: Juan Pablo Celone; Nicolás González, Nicolás Romero, Julián Bahamonde, and Alan Colivoro; Francisco Mayorga, Gonzalo Pérez, Leonardo Zárate, and Jonathan Molina; Maximiliano Pérez and Leonardo Domínguez. Coach: Hugo Cárdenas.

Goals in the second half: 30' and 50' Milton Ahmed (C), the second one from a penalty; 46' Eric Castro (U).

Substitutions in the second half: 20' Enzo Oviedo for Vergara (C); 23' Eric Castro for M. Pérez (U) and Denis Orquera for Alvarez (C); 30' Agustín Carrizo (C); 32' Jorge Lasso for G. Pérez (U); 34' Agustín Farcy for González (U).

Incidents in the second half: 37' Maximiliano Molina (C) sent off for a second yellow card. 42' Jorge Lasso (U) sent off for aggression. 45' Denis Orquera (C) sent off for excessive verbal behavior.

Yellow cards: Quiroga and Ahmed (C). G. Pérez and Mayorga (U).

Stadium: Municipal de Caleta Olivia.

Referee: Fabio Kiona (Piedra Buena).