Newell’s followed up last week’s dramatic 1-0 win over Independiente with another 1-0 home win against Unión on Monday evening. It is the first time this season that La Lepra have managed consecutive wins and the fact that they both were with clean sheets will please interim manager Adrián Taffarel and the club board who are actively recruiting a new manager for the team.
After an even first half which saw Newell’s having to make two goal line clearences to stop Unión from taking the lead, it was Pablo Pérez’s 49th minute long-range goal that settled the game. The 36-year-old booted a wonderful half-volley from 30 yards that flew past Moyano in the opposition goal after Unión thought they had cleared a Newell’s corner.
Pérez was influential throughout until he was taken off in the second half but the outstanding defensive partnership of the returning Cristian Lema and José Canale really set the tone for a solid Newell’s performance. Ramiro Macagno was dependable in goal, despite one shaky moment in the first half in which he lost the ball at his feet near the six-yard-box. Maxi Rodríguez made a late cameo as did another young debutant, Martín Luciano, who impressed on the left-wing and nearly set up Juan Garro for a goal within seconds of coming on.
With elections in Argentina taking place soon, the league now breaks for almost 2 weeks, with Newell’s next in action away to Arsenal de Sarandí on 21 November.
Watch the highlights of the match below.
