Newell’s Old Boys put in their best performance of the new season so far on Sunday evening, demolishing Atlético Tucumán by four goals at the Estadio Marcelo Bielsa.
Juan Garro set the scene for what would play out over 90 minutes after just 1 minute of the match when he fired a shot across goal that went straight into the bottom corner after collecting a Juanchon García pass. Garro’s third goal in the red and black of Newell’s got the stadium singing and they had no reason to stop all night.
In truth, Atlético Tucumán had periods of dominance after the opener in the first-half and could have equalised but for the performance of Ramiro Macagno in the Newell’s goal. Macagno, drafted back into the squad after a nightmare start to the season from new signing Iván Arboleda, hasn’t put a foot wrong in the last two games and won’t be dislodged from his position anytime soon.
Newell’s lost right-back Armando Méndez in the first-half but his replacement Tomás Jacob, just 17-years-old, was exemplary and has shown already that he is ready for senior football. Somewhat against the run of play, moments after Nicolás Thaller should have seen red for a horror challenge on Juanchon García, Nicolás Castro struck again to give La Lepra a two-goal lead going into half-time. He made no mistake when Juan Garro swung a deep cross into the box, shooting into the net with his left-foot at the back post to grab a second goal in two games.
Our third and fourth goals were the work of second-half substitutes brought on by Javier Sanguinetti to restore energy as the clock approached the end. Ramiro Sordo rose high in the box to bury a header that was supplied by the hard-working Panchito González while Nazareno Funez, prolific at reserve level, scored his first goal in professional football to secure the win with just 9 minutes to go. Funez received the ball from new man Djorkaeff Reasco and shrugged off former Newell’s man Bruno Bianchi before finishing through the legs of Tucumán’s keeper Tomás Marchiori.
Despite worrying defeats to Argentinos Juniors and River Plate, things are now looking up for Newell’s Old Boys with 9 points on the board after 5 matches. Javier Sanguinetti seems to have settled on a first 11 and some of his substitutes certainly seem to be knocking on the door for a starting place.
Next up is an away trip to Sarmiento before the iconic Clásico Rosarino against Rosario Central on 20th March.
Watch the highlights of the match below.
