Newell’s Old Boys lost their first league match since the departure of ex-coach Javier Sanguinetti as Sarmiento returned to Junín on Saturday night with all three points.
It was a match in which The Lepers dominated for large spells without being able to take advantage of so much possession and shots on goal.
A dull and ultimately even first-half made way for a livelier second-half in which Brian Aguirre and Djorkaeff Reasco both tested Sarmiento goalkeeper Sebastián Meza from range. A heavy period of Newell’s pressure was suddenly released after 57 minutes when Sarmiento were awarded a dubious free-kick on the edge of the penalty area. Replays showed that Lisandro López went down under minimal contact after mishitting a shot but Yair Arismendi took full advantage and buried the set-piece, hitting his shot low and to the far post past Newell’s goalkeeper Lautaro Morales.
The away side then sat back for the rest of the game and held firm as Newell’s went searching for an equaliser. Juan Manuel García went closest to a leveller with just 7 minutes remaining but Meza was equal to his header and Newell’s couldn’t find the breakthrough.
A setback for interim head coach Adrián Coria who suffers defeat in the league after a 3-game winning streak.
Watch highlights of the match below.
