SANTA FE (Interstat) — Union de Santa Fe scored three second-half goals and defeated Estudiantes L.P. 3-0 in a competition match, turning a tight first half into a decisive home result.

Cristian Tarragona led Union with a goal and an assist while playing the full 90 minutes. Tarragona opened the scoring in the 51st minute, six minutes after halftime. Marcelo Luciano Estigarribia doubled Union’s lead in the 64th minute. Eric Ramirez, who played 16 minutes, added the final goal in the sixth minute of stoppage time. Juan Pintado recorded an assist in 44 minutes for Union. The first half ended scoreless, with Estudiantes’ Piovi booked in the 44th minute. Gonzalez Pirez received Estudiantes’ second yellow card in the 75th minute.

Union made a double substitution at halftime, bringing on Peresutti and Rubio. Rocha entered in the 56th minute. Estigarribia was replaced in the 74th minute after scoring. Palacios entered for Union in the 85th minute. Estudiantes made a double change in the 66th minute with Gaich and Cetre. Mancuso entered in the 77th, Meza in the 88th and Piovi in the 89th. Union protected its lead through the closing stages before Ramirez scored in stoppage time. The late goal completed a three-goal home victory.

The match remained scoreless until Tarragona’s 51st-minute goal. Estigarribia scored 13 minutes later. Ramirez’s goal came in the 90th minute plus six. Estudiantes’ double substitution in the 66th minute brought on Gaich and Cetre. Mancuso and Meza also entered later, while Piovi, already booked, was replaced in the 89th minute. Union’s bench moves included Peresutti and Rubio at halftime, Rocha in the 56th, Estigarribia in the 74th and Palacios in the 85th. Ramirez, limited to 16 minutes, completed the scoring. Tarragona’s 90-minute performance included an assist in addition to his goal, and Pintado’s 44-minute outing included an assist.

Estudiantes L.P. is now 1-2-1 in the competition, with one win, two losses and one draw. Its all-competitions record is 2-3-2, with two wins, three losses and two draws. Union de Santa Fe is 1-2-1 in the competition, with one win, two losses and one draw. Its all-competitions record is also 1-2-1. The result moved both sides to matching competition records, though their all-competitions marks differ. Tarragona’s performance stood out as Union’s most important attacking contribution, and his goal and assist underlined his role in the win.

Estudiantes entered the match after a 1-0 win at Flamengo RJ, a 2-1 home loss to San Lorenzo, a scoreless home draw with Flamengo RJ, a 2-2 draw at Central Cordoba SdE, a 3-0 home win over Gimnasia Mendoza and a 1-0 loss at Platense. Union’s recent results included a 1-1 draw at Dep. Riestra, a 2-0 home loss to Defensa y Justicia and a 3-0 loss at Boca Juniors. Union scored all three goals after halftime. Estudiantes made substitutions after Tarragona’s opener, but Union added goals from Estigarribia and Ramirez. The visitors’ yellow cards came from Piovi and Gonzalez Pirez. Union’s late third goal removed any doubt about the outcome.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Estudiantes L.P. 2, Union de Santa Fe 0. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Estudiantes L.P. with a 60.8 percent probability to win. Union de Santa Fe had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -0.25. The total score of 4 went under the over/under line of 2.5.