Buenos Aires, Feb 2 (NA) – Estudiantes de La Plata held on to a 0-0 draw against Defensa y Justicia as visitors in a match corresponding to the third round of Zone A of the Apertura Tournament. According to Argentine News Agency, the 'Pincha's' goalkeeper Fabricio Iacovich became the hero to keep the score level by saving a penalty executed by Ruben Botta. In a first half that was even, with not many dangerous chances for either team, Estudiantes suffered the expulsion of Santiago Núñez at 34 minutes, who already had a yellow card since the 10th', after cutting with a foul a promising advance of the 'Halcón' in the feet of Abiel Osorio. In this way and with a numerical disadvantage on the field, the team led by Eduardo Domínguez had to regroup to close the spaces and prevent the locals from advancing in the match. In the first moments of the second half, Fabricio Iacovich was the savior of the platense team against a point-blank shot from Juan Miritello, who was alone in front of the opposing goalkeeper after a pass from Ayrton Portillo. Ten minutes later, it was again the 'Lion's' goalkeeper who stood tall under the three posts to intervene in two shots from Defensa y Justicia by Ruben Botta and Juan Gutiérrez. Later, Fabricio Pérez took down Ayrton Portillo inside the area and referee Ariel Penel, at the instance of VAR, sanctioned a maximum penalty in favor of the team led by Mariano Soso. The one in charge of executing the shot from twelve steps was Ruben Botta, but he found himself with the presence of Iacovich, who threw himself to his right to contain the shot and again keep the zero. In this way, the scoreboard did not suffer modifications and Estudiantes de La Plata managed to add a point in a match that became adverse from the first half after the expulsion of Núñez in the initial stage.
Quote: 'Fabricio Iacovich was the hero of the match, preserving our 'zero' after saving the penalty. It was an important result for the team,' said Estudiantes coach Eduardo Domínguez.
Team Lineups: Estudiantes (LP): Fabricio Iacovich; Gastón Benedetti, Leandro Gonzalez Pirez, Santiago Núñez, Eric Meza; Ezequiel Piovi, Gabriel Neves; Joaquín Tobio Burgos, Cristian Medina, Facundo Farías; Franco Domínguez. Defensa y Justicia: Cristopher Fiermarin; David Martinez, Emiliano Amor, Lucas Souto; Samuel Lucero, Aaron Molinas, Santiago Sosa, Ayrton Portillo; Juan Gutiérrez, Ruben Botta; Abiel Osorio.
