A clinical Newell’s Old Boys side ended Huracán’s impressive 15-match unbeaten run with a decisive 2-0 victory at the Estadio Marcelo Bielsa last night. Goals from Valentino Acuña and Lollo were enough to keep La Lepra’s playoff dreams alive as they closed the gap on the final qualification spot to just two points.
On a night when efficiency trumped possession, Newell’s demonstrated perfect timing by capitalising on their limited opportunities while limiting Huracán to frustrated attacks that rarely threatened Keylor Navas’ goal.
Clinical Finishing Decides the Contest
In a first half largely devoid of clear-cut chances, with only Carlos González’s header over the crossbar providing a brief moment of excitement, it was Newell’s who eventually broke the deadlock through Valentino Acuña’s well-taken finish. Lollo doubled the advantage later in the match before receiving a red card in the closing minutes – a small blemish on an otherwise perfect evening for the Rosario outfit.
The victory breathes new life into Newell’s campaign as they now sit just two points behind Estudiantes, who currently occupy the final spot in the round of 16. However, La Lepra no longer control their own destiny and will need favorable results elsewhere to progress.
Huracán’s Streak Comes to an End
For Huracán, the defeat marked the end of their impressive 15-match unbeaten streak across all competitions (12 in the Apertura and three in the Copa). The visitors seemed to lack the determination required to win in Rosario, perhaps complacent after having already secured their qualification to the knockout stages.
More significantly, the loss ended El Globo’s hopes of finishing top of the group. Despite Boca’s defeat in the Superclásico, Huracán couldn’t capitalize and remain five points off the summit with just one match remaining.
Tactical Analysis
Huracán manager Kudelka attempted to inject some urgency into his side in the second half, introducing Wanchope Ábila and Urzi to provide more attacking threat. While El Globo did increase their territorial advantage after these changes, their approach was one-dimensional, relying on imprecise crosses and failing to create clear opportunities against a well-organized Newell’s defense.
The visitors’ only significant chance fell to Erik Ramírez, who handled the ball in the build-up and would have wasted the opportunity regardless with a poor finish. Throughout the match, Huracán maintained neat possession but lacked penetration in the final third, with playmaker Gil operating too deep to influence proceedings in dangerous areas.
Looking Ahead
Newell’s Old Boys will now be watching results anxiously as they hope for a chance to sneak into the playoff positions, while Huracán face Barracas Central on Tuesday, needing a positive result to maintain their position in the top four.
To add insult to injury for the visitors, they lost three players to injury during the match (Sequeira, Pereyra, and Ibáñez), which could impact their preparations for the knockout stages.
The victory showcased Newell’s resilience and tactical discipline under pressure, giving their fans renewed hope of extending their Copa campaign beyond the group stage.
