Atlético Tucumán bet on defensive solidity and time management to protect their lead, while Godoy Cruz went all out in search of an equalizer, without success. The final whistle sparked the euphoria of the local fans, who celebrated a hard-fought and deserved victory. In an unfortunate moment for the visitors, Godoy Cruz's full-back, Juan Moran, attempted to clear a cross into the penalty area, but ended up deflecting the ball into his own goal, bewildering goalkeeper Franco Petroli. Far from settling for the narrow lead, the 'Decano' maintained their intensity and just five minutes later struck again. His shot went in near the right post of Petroli, who could do nothing to prevent the second goal. Energized by their crowd, Atlético continued to push for a third, creating several opportunities down the wings and maintaining control of the ball. Atlético Tucumán defeated Godoy Cruz 2-1 at the José Fierro Monumental stadium, in the match corresponding to the 15th round of the 2025 Closing Tournament. With this victory, the 'Decano' secured tenth place in the Group B standings and again added three crucial points in their fight to climb the table in the final stretch of the championship. The team led by the local coaching duo showed a solid and effective performance, especially during the first half, where they managed to impose their rhythm and possession on a rival that never found clarity in midfield. Godoy Cruz pushed their lines up and tried to regain ground in the midfield, taking advantage of the physical fatigue of the Tucumán side. In turn, the 'Tomba's' consolation goal came in the second half, thanks to a fine finish by Santino Andino. From the start, Atlético Tucumán came out determined to take the initiative and press high. Their dominance quickly translated into danger in the opponent's area, and they found the opening of the scoreboard in the 19th minute. Godoy Cruz, however, had difficulty playing out from the back and depended almost exclusively on long balls towards their forwards. In the second half, the game's pace changed. In the 24th minute, Marcelo Ortiz extended the difference with a powerful shot from the edge of the area after a rebound that the Mendoza defense failed to clear clearly. With more thrust than clarity, the visitor managed to get close to Matías Mansilla's goal, who responded with confidence on each intervention. In the 35th minute, the 'Tomba' found the consolation goal after a standout individual action from Santino Andino. The forward went down the right flank, left his marker behind and finished precisely to the far post, beating the resistance of the home goalkeeper. The final minutes were played with great intensity. The 'Decano' showed attitude, concentration, and effectiveness at key moments, achieving a result that renews the team's confidence for the decisive commitments remaining in the 2025 Closing Tournament.
