Newell’s achieved a resounding 3-0 victory over San Lorenzo in their match during the 8th round of the Copa de la Liga Profesional. Newell’s, led by Gabriel Heinze, desperately needed a win to regain confidence after a string of five winless games, and they accomplished this convincingly. Cristian Ferreira scored two goals, while Sordo added the third.
Heinze’s team played a smart game, striking at crucial moments, while San Lorenzo, under the guidance of Insúa, was far from its best form.
The first half was marked by a lack of play and numerous fouls, with 12 fouls committed by Newell’s and 6 by San Lorenzo. The match saw four Newell’s players booked, along with arguments, fights, and even a confrontation between Insúa and Heinze, which led to the expulsion of San Lorenzo’s coach following a fight with Heinze’s assistant, Mariano Toedtli.
In the only significant moment of the match, San Lorenzo threatened with a couple of headers from Bareiro, but Newell’s capitalized on its sole opportunity. Sforza delivered a frontal cross, Martino flicked it on, and Ferreira found himself strangely unmarked to open the scoring.
The second half was a different story, with Newell’s playing with the advantage, making it an uphill battle for San Lorenzo. Sordo, who replaced the injured Schor, began to trouble Braida and provided an assist that allowed Ferreira to score the second goal with a powerful shot.
San Lorenzo’s defense crumbled, leaving acres of space. The home team’s defense was so open that Newell’s launched a two-on-two attack from a goalkeeper’s clearance. Recalde flicked the ball to Sordo, who scored the third goal with his left foot.
Towards the end of the match, Lujan was sent off for two off-the-ball fouls, and San Lorenzo fans expressed their frustration towards the team and management.
Newell’s secured a long-awaited away victory, with their last win outside their home stadium dating back to 11 July against Independiente in Avellaneda. This win revitalizes Newell’s and places them in contention for a spot in the Copa Sudamericana competition and temporarily among the top four in their group.
