Liga Profesional
Union Santa Fe beat Sarmiento Junin 4-1 in Clausura clash at Estadio 15 de Abril
Goals from Tarragona (x2), Malcorra and Ramirez secure victory for the home side in Santa Fe de la Vera Cruz.
Union Santa Fe secured a commanding 4-1 victory over Sarmiento Junin in their Liga Profesional Argentina Clausura fixture at Estadio 15 de Abril, with Cristian Tarragona leading the charge with two goals.
The home side started brightly, taking the lead in the 18th minute when Tarragona capitalized on a precise through ball from E. Giaccone. The goal set the tone for a dominant first half display under Leonardo Madelon’s 4-3-1-2 system.
Sarmiento Junin struggled to contain the pressure, with J. Contrera picking up an early yellow card in the 8th minute and L. Suarez following suit just before halftime. Despite their efforts, they went into the break trailing by one.
The second half saw Union Santa Fe extend their advantage in the 61st minute. Tarragona struck again, this time finishing off a well-worked move orchestrated by I. Malcorra, whose assist found the forward in space inside the box.
Malcorra then turned provider once more in the 74th minute, setting up his own strike after a clever link-up with L. Ayala. The goal showcased the creative synergy between the home side’s midfield and attack.
Sarmiento Junin finally found a lifeline in the 79th minute when J. Mavilla pulled one back for the visitors, converting a chance that had been sparingly created throughout the match. The goal offered a glimmer of hope for Facundo Sava’s side.
However, Union Santa Fe responded swiftly. In the 84th minute, E. Ramirez sealed the result with a clinical finish, ensuring the home crowd left satisfied. The goal capped off a strong team performance that reflected their tactical discipline.
The match official, Pablo Echavarria, maintained control throughout, issuing three yellow cards across both teams. His decisions largely went uncontested as Union Santa Fe managed the game effectively in the closing stages.
With the win, Union Santa Fe climbed to 10th place in Clausura - Group A with seven points from six matches. Sarmiento Junin, meanwhile, remained in second position in Clausura - Group B, though the defeat marked a rare setback for the otherwise competitive visitors.
The result underscores Union Santa Fe’s resilience at home, where their attacking trio of Tarragona, Malcorra, and Ramirez proved too much for Sarmiento Junin’s 4-4-2 formation. The victory will boost confidence ahead of their upcoming fixtures.