Belgrano Zarate secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Alumni Los Hornos in the early hours of July 18, 2026, in a match that saw the home side dig deep to claim all three points in the ARFC.

Match Overview

Played under the lights at the Estadio Municipal de Zarate, the fixture kicked off at 02:00 local time, drawing a dedicated crowd despite the late hour. Belgrano Zarate entered the contest looking to build momentum in the league standings, while Alumni Los Hornos aimed to climb away from the lower reaches. The final scoreline of 2-1 reflected a tense, back-and-forth battle where defensive grit and finishing quality made the difference.

Key Moments

• First half breakthrough: Belgrano Zarate struck first in the 23rd minute when forward Lucas Ferreyra latched onto a through ball from midfield, rounding the goalkeeper to slot home. The goal set the home side in front and gave them a platform to control play.
• Alumni equalise: Alumni Los Hornos responded with purpose, and their persistence paid off in the 41st minute. A sweeping counterattack ended with Matías Gómez firing a low drive from the edge of the box into the bottom corner, restoring parity just before the interval.
• Decisive second half: The contest remained finely balanced until the 67th minute when a corner kick from the right was met by central defender Juan Cruz Molina, whose powerful header flew past the Alumni goalkeeper. That strike proved to be the winner, as Belgrano Zarate held firm in the closing stages.

Tactical Story

Belgrano Zarate set up in a compact 4-4-2, relying on quick transitions and exploiting the wide areas. Their wingers frequently cut inside to combine with the front two, creating numerical advantages in central zones. Alumni Los Hornos, by contrast, employed a 4-2-3-1 shape, looking to control possession through midfield. They struggled, however, to break down the home side’s disciplined defensive block after the equaliser, and were often forced into speculative shots from distance.

The winning goal highlighted a vulnerability in Alumni’s set‑piece marking, a recurring issue that coach Adrián Domínguez will look to address in training. For Belgrano Zarate, the ability to dig out a result despite having less of the ball (42% possession) underlined their growing resilience under manager Facundo Morales.

Standout Players

• Lucas Ferreyra (Belgrano Zarate): Opened the scoring with a composed finish and worked tirelessly to press the opposition backline.
• Juan Cruz Molina (Belgrano Zarate): Not only scored the decisive header but also made several crucial clearances and won almost all of his aerial duels.
• Matías Gómez (Alumni Los Hornos): The most dangerous attacker for the visitors, his goal was a moment of individual quality, and he continued to threaten in the second half.

Impact on the Standings

The victory lifts Belgrano Zarate into the top half of the ARFC table, providing a valuable platform as the season approaches its business end. For Alumni Los Hornos, the defeat leaves them hovering just above the relegation zone, with a need to pick up points quickly to avoid falling deeper into danger. The head‑to‑head result also gives Belgrano Zarate a psychological edge should these sides meet again in the regional cup competition later in the calendar.