San Lorenzo de Almagro ended a poor run and claimed three key points with a 1-0 victory over Deportivo Riestra at the Estadio Pedro Bidegain. Teo Rodríguez Pagano, scoring in the 67th minute, was the hero of a matchday 12 clash in the Torneo Clausura that brought relief to a squad under pressure.
Rubén Darío Insua's side, now tenth in the Liga Profesional with 14 points, urgently needed to react after their heavy defeat to Defensa y Justicia. The first half showed a San Lorenzo with more intent but lacking a finishing touch. The visitors' Alexander Díaz had two clear chances against Facundo Devecchi, while Rodrigo Auzmendi tested goalkeeper Arce with a driven cross-shot.
The goal that changed the game
The introduction of Agustín Ladstatter at the start of the second half changed the midfield dynamic. It was Ladstatter who started the move for the goal, combining with Auzmendi down the left flank. Auzmendi's cross found Teo Rodríguez Pagano in the box, and he finished first-time past Arce. The strike, coming 21 minutes into the second period, was a lifeline for a team that had scored only five goals all tournament.
Rubén Darío Insua, who secured his first win in his third spell in charge, praised the goalscorer. "Teo had a great game beyond the goal, I'm happy with his performance," the manager said. "He has improved his technique a lot and trains well. It makes me happy that he scored and that it served to win the game."
With the lead, San Lorenzo sat deeper but launched sporadic counter-attacks, while Riestra, who arrived on an eight-match winless run, failed to create any real danger. Referee Bruno Amiconi showed seven yellow cards in a physically intense contest.
Context and next challenge
The win comes amid a complex institutional backdrop, with a debt of 67 million dollars and recent embargoes affecting even funds from player sales. President Marcelo Culotta had reaffirmed his commitment minutes before kick-off. In the stands, the initial insults from fans, who chanted slogans demanding effort, turned to relief with the final whistle.
In the annual table, San Lorenzo remain nine points behind Belgrano, who hold the last international qualification spot, with twelve points still to play for. The next fixture is key: an away trip to ninth-placed Estudiantes de La Plata on Sunday, October 18. The team needs to keep winning to stay in the hunt for the playoff spots, an objective that now feels a little more attainable.
Further reading: La Nacion AR Deportes
