ROSARIO (Interstat) — Emanuel Coronel scored in the 20th minute and Angel Di Maria added a late goal as Rosario Central beat Huracan 2-0 on Saturday at Predio Cristalería Rosario Central in Rosario, Argentina. Rosario Central improved to three wins, no losses and one draw in the competition and across all competitions. Huracan fell to one win and three losses in the competition and across all competitions. The home side secured the result despite losing J. Almiron to a red card in first-half stoppage time, and it protected the lead after Huracan was unable to capitalize with an extra man.

Rosario Central entered the match on a three-game unbeaten run in the competition, having beaten Atl. Tucuman 3-2, routed Ind. Rivadavia 5-0 and drawn 1-1 at Banfield in its previous three results. Huracan had lost to Gimnasia L.P. 2-1, lost at Barracas Central 2-0 and beaten Aldosivi 1-0 in its previous three. The early stages were tight before Coronel broke through in the 20th minute.

Rosario Central took the lead when Coronel found the net in the 20th minute. The match grew physical before the break. Huracan’s J. Caicedo was booked in the 22nd minute. Rosario Central’s Almiron was sent off in the first minute of first-half stoppage time, leaving the home side with 10 men. Huracan’s D. Martinez was shown a yellow card in the second minute of first-half stoppage time. Huracan made an early substitution in the 38th minute involving C. Ibanez. Rosario Central led 1-0 at halftime despite the sending-off.

Huracan used two more substitutions in the 58th minute, with E. Ojeda and J. Bisanz entering the match. Rosario Central defended its lead and added insurance late. Franco Ibarra was booked in the 73rd minute. Huracan’s Rodrigo Fernandez received a yellow card in the 75th minute. Rosario Central made substitutions in the 78th minute, bringing on A. Rodriguez and replacing Coronel after his goal. J. Campaz was substituted in the 82nd minute, and E. Copetti entered. Di Maria scored in the 84th minute to make it 2-0, then was substituted in the 86th minute. Huracan also made substitutions in the 86th minute involving J. Caicedo and Rodrigo Fernandez. Rosario Central saw out the closing minutes without conceding.

Di Maria’s goal capped the scoring and gave Rosario Central breathing room after a long spell with 10 men. Coronel and Di Maria supplied the goals, while J. Campaz and Ibarra each recorded an assist. In descending order of impact, Di Maria finished with one goal in 86 minutes, Coronel scored in 78 minutes before being replaced, Campaz recorded an assist in 82 minutes, and Ibarra logged 90 minutes with an assist and a yellow card. Ibarra’s full match was part of a statistical line that also included the assist and booking. Caicedo and Martinez were booked for Huracan in the first half, while Ibarra and Rodrigo Fernandez were booked after the break. Almiron was the only player sent off in the match. Rosario Central’s defense kept Huracan scoreless, and the home side closed out the win with 10 men. The result extended Rosario Central’s unbeaten start in the competition, while Huracan remained on one win. The match included four yellow cards and one red card. The final whistle confirmed a 2-0 home victory.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Rosario Central 1, Huracan 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Rosario Central with a 67.6 percent probability to win. Rosario Central had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -0.5. The total score of 2 went over the over/under line of 2.25.