SANTA FE, Argentina (Interstat) — Substitute Enzo Martínez delivered a stunning, game-winning performance off the bench, scoring one goal and setting up another to propel Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata to a 2-1 comeback victory over a heavily favored Union side on Monday in a Primera Nacional match.

The result at Estadio 15 de Abril defied pregame projections, which heavily favored the home team. Data from Interstat gave Union an 87.90 percent probability of victory, while its game simulator had predicted a 1-1 draw.

Instead, Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata opened its season with a hard-fought road win, improving its record to 1-0 in the Argentine second division. Union begins its campaign 0-1.

The match began at a furious pace. Against the run of statistical expectation, the home side struck first. In the 18th minute, Union’s Manuel Panaro Miramon found the back of the net, sending the local supporters into an early frenzy and putting his team in the driver’s seat.

The lead was short-lived. Just six minutes later, Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata responded. The equalizer came from Martínez, who had just entered the match, leveling the score at 1-1. The goal shifted the momentum and set the stage for a physical, contentious battle.

The intensity was immediately reflected in the officiating. Two minutes after his goal, Martínez received a yellow card. That booking was quickly followed by another to Union’s Mauricio Martínez in the 26th minute, one of two cautions the defender would earn on the night.

The first half concluded with a flurry of activity, including a yellow card issued to Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata’s Augusto Max in second-half stoppage time, sending the teams into the break deadlocked.

The visitors emerged from halftime with clear purpose and seized control of the match for good in the 53rd minute. Martínez, the dynamic substitute, turned provider this time, assisting on the decisive goal scored by Cristian Tarragona. The play gave Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata a 2-1 advantage it would not relinquish.

The goal underscored a theme of the match: the profound impact of substitutes. Beyond Martínez’s heroics, Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata saw key contributions off the bench from Nicolas Schelotto and Nelson Insfrán, who were each credited with an assist. Union’s substitutes, Valentín Fascendini and Augusto Max, also recorded assists, highlighting the depth both teams utilized in a contest of attrition.

As the second half wore on, Union pressed for an equalizer, but the Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata defense held firm under pressure. The match grew increasingly fractious in the final stages. A scuffle in the 83rd minute resulted in yellow cards for both Schelotto and Union’s Fascendini in quick succession. Insfrán was also booked in second-half stoppage time as the visitors managed the game to its conclusion.

The final whistle confirmed a significant opening-day upset. Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata’s ability to absorb early pressure, respond quickly, and capitalize on its opportunities—particularly through its bench—proved the difference. The three points on the road provide a vital boost to its Primera Nacional campaign.

For Union, the loss is a disappointing start to the season, a result that belied its status as a overwhelming pregame favorite. The team will look to regroup after a match where its early promise faded against a resilient and clinical opponent.