Gutiérrez’s 88th-minute goal gives Defensa a 2-1 comeback

Defensa Y Justicia defeated Talleres Cordoba 2-1 at Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, overturning a half-time deficit with Juan Manuel Gutiérrez’s late winner. The result moved Defensa provisionally to second in Clausura - Group A with 27 points, while Talleres remained provisionally 15th with 9 points.

Late decisive moment after an even contest

Talleres opened the scoring in the 32nd minute when Agustin Alvarez Martínez made it 1-0. Defensa responded almost immediately after the interval: Leandro Fernández equalised in the 47th minute, making the score 1-1, with an assist from Juan Manuel Gutiérrez.

The decisive moment came in the 88th minute. Gutiérrez finished a move assisted by Valentín Pucheta Loza to put Defensa 2-1 ahead, and that was the final score. The late goal transformed a match Talleres had led for much of its duration into a victory for the visitors.

Talleres created more attempts but lost

The statistics show a closely balanced game rather than clear control by either side. Talleres had 19 total shots to Defensa’s 12, including eight corner kicks to three, while Defensa held 52% possession and completed 385 accurate passes compared with Talleres’ 339. Talleres also registered seven shots on goal, one more than Defensa, but M. Borgogno made six saves for the winners.

The expected-goals figures were similarly close, at 0.83 for Talleres and 0.84 for Defensa. Both teams finished without a red card. Roman Daniel Riquelme, Lautaro Fabián Ortiz and Alexandro Maidana were booked for Talleres, while Damián Fernández received Defensa’s only yellow card.

Table impact and standout performer

Before kick-off, Defensa had 24 Clausura points and went into the game fourth; Talleres had 9 and was 15th. Defensa now has 27 points, 2 behind leaders Instituto Cordoba, while Talleres remains on 9 points. Gutiérrez was the standout, earning an 8.2 rating with one goal and one assist.