Atenas 1-1 Costa Brava
ARFC – Jornada 9
Estadio Atenas, Santa Fe – 22 June 2026

Two evenly matched sides shared the points in a hard-fought 1-1 draw in the ARFC, with both goals coming in a frantic second-half spell. The result leaves both teams in mid-table as the season approaches its midway point.

First Half: Cautious Chess Match

The opening 45 minutes offered few clear-cut chances. Atenas, playing in front of their home supporters, tried to assert possession but found Costa Brava's compact 4-4-2 difficult to break down. The visitors, meanwhile, relied on quick transitions through midfielder Ezequiel Gallardo, but final passes lacked precision. The best opportunity fell to Atenas striker Lucas Ponce just before half-time, but he fired over from a tight angle after a deflected cross.

Second Half: Goal-Filled Spells

The deadlock broke in the 56th minute when Atenas opened the scoring through a well-worked team move. Right-back Federico Alanís overlapped and delivered a low cross that was met by Ponce, whose first-time shot beat the Costa Brava goalkeeper Matías Navarro at the near post. The home crowd erupted, sensing a third consecutive win.

Costa Brava responded well, equalizing just 12 minutes later. A free kick from the left flank was headed across goal by Facundo Salomón and Gallardo was on hand to poke the ball over the line from close range. The midfielder's persistence paid off after a tussle with the Atenas center-back.

Late Drama

Both sides pushed for a winner in the final quarter-hour. Atenas substitute Ignacio Fernández curled a free kick just over the bar, while at the other end, Costa Brava's Lautaro Cisneros hit the post from a tight angle following a counter-attack. In stoppage time, a red-card incident was narrowly avoided when Atenas defender Hernán Luna escaped a second yellow for a late tackle, drawing angry protests from the Costa Brava bench.

Player Ratings

• Lucas Ponce (Atenas) – Scored the opener and led the line effectively. A constant threat in the air.
• Ezequiel Gallardo (Costa Brava) – Tireless midfielder who equalized and drove his team forward. Man of the match.
• Matías Navarro (Costa Brava) – Made three vital saves, including a point-blank stop from Ponce in the second half.

Season Context

The draw leaves Atenas in 7th place with 12 points, while Costa Brava sits 9th with 11 points in the 18-team ARFC. Both teams remain within striking distance of the playoff places but will need to start converting draws into wins.

For Atenas, the performance showed grit but also exposed a lack of creativity in the final third against compact defenses. Costa Brava, meanwhile, can take heart from their resilience but must improve their away form – they have drawn four of their last five matches on the road.

The ARFC season continues to be highly competitive, with only five points separating 4th from 12th. Next week, Atenas travels to league leaders Colón de San Justo, while Costa Brava hosts mid-table Juventud de Rafaela.