SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO, Argentina (Interstat) — Belgrano II scored twice in the second half and rallied for a 2-1 victory over Central Cordoba II on Thursday in a global football match that turned after an early home goal and ended with a stoppage-time red card. The visiting side trailed at halftime, found an equalizer after the break and then struck in the 86th minute to complete the comeback.

Central Cordoba II began with energy and took the lead in the 23rd minute. The opening goal gave the home side a narrow advantage and forced Belgrano II to chase the game. Central Cordoba II tried to keep its defensive shape and slow the tempo, while Belgrano II worked to string passes together through midfield and find space in the attacking third.

Belgrano II grew into the match before halftime, but the visitors could not find a goal before the break. Central Cordoba II protected its lead with compact defending and looked to counter when possible. The home side’s early goal remained the difference as the teams went into the interval, leaving Belgrano II with work to do in the second half.

The equalizer came in the 57th minute. Belgrano II leveled the score and changed the momentum of the contest, pushing more players forward and forcing Central Cordoba II deeper into its own half. The home side, which had been organized for much of the first hour, suddenly had to withstand sustained pressure as Belgrano II searched for a go-ahead goal.

Central Cordoba II resisted for a time, but Belgrano II continued to create problems with patient build-up and repeated attacks. The visitors’ persistence paid off in the 86th minute, when they scored again to take a 2-1 lead. The late goal left Central Cordoba II with little time to respond.

The home side’s hopes of a comeback suffered a further blow in the 90th minute plus five when Central Cordoba II received a red card. The dismissal reduced Central Cordoba II to 10 players and made a late equalizer even more difficult. Belgrano II managed the closing moments and secured the road win.

The result moved Belgrano II to 2 wins, 0 losses and 1 draw in this competition. Central Cordoba II fell to 0 wins, 3 losses and 1 draw. Both records also match the teams’ marks across all competitions, leaving Belgrano II at 2 wins, 0 losses and 1 draw and Central Cordoba II at 0 wins, 3 losses and 1 draw.

Belgrano II entered the match after a win over San Martin S.J. II and a draw with Talleres Cordoba II earlier this season. Central Cordoba II had lost to Lanus II, drawn with Newells Old Boys II and fallen to Atl. Tucuman II in previous outings. The contrast in form gave the match an added backdrop, though Central Cordoba II briefly looked capable of reversing its run with the opening goal.

Belgrano II’s comeback was built on patience and pressure. After conceding early, the visiting side kept working through midfield and waited for gaps to appear. Central Cordoba II defended with numbers for much of the second half, but the pressure increased as the match wore on. The 86th-minute goal proved decisive, and the late red card ended any realistic hope for the home side.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Belgrano II 2, Central Cordoba II 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Central Cordoba II with a 59.2 percent probability to win. Belgrano II had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -0.5. The total score of 3 went under the over/under line of 2.5.