ROSARIO (Interstat) — Union de Santa Fe and Newell’s Old Boys played to a 1-1 draw at Estadio Marcelo Alberto Bielsa, with Juan Luduena’s second-half goal securing a share of the points for the visitors. The match remained tight through the opening hour before Luduena broke through in the 59th minute for Union. Marcelo Luciano Estigarribia provided the assist on the goal. Newell’s Old Boys also scored once in the draw, but neither side could find a winning goal over the closing stages.

Union de Santa Fe’s Palacios J. received a yellow card in the 17th minute. Newell’s Old Boys’ Solari S. was cautioned in the 43rd minute. The first half ended without a goal, but the visitors made the attacking breakthrough early in the second half when Luduena finished the move set up by Estigarribia. The goal gave Union the lead and forced Newell’s to chase the match.

Union de Santa Fe’s Cuello B. was booked in the 69th minute, and Luduena was cautioned in the 70th minute after his goal. Aguirre M. was booked in the 78th minute. Newell’s Old Boys also picked up a yellow card in the 78th minute when Ramirez I. was cautioned, and the home side’s Russo J. was booked in the 82nd minute. Newell’s Old Boys’ Coccaro M. was shown a yellow card in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time. Eight yellow cards were issued in the match.

Both teams used their benches during the second half. Newell’s Old Boys made a change at halftime with Guch F., and Gomez L. followed in the 64th minute. Newell’s also used Mazzantti W. in the 90th minute. Union de Santa Fe made a double change in the 74th minute with Palacios J. and Cuello B., then used Ayala L. in the 80th minute and Rubio T. in the 84th minute. Union’s Estigarribia remained a central figure in the visitors’ attacking play, and his assist on Luduena’s goal proved the key contribution of the match.

Luduena finished with a goal and a yellow card for Union de Santa Fe. Estigarribia recorded the assist. Union de Santa Fe’s season record in this competition is now 1-2-2, and its record across all competitions is also 1-2-2. Newell’s Old Boys’ season record in this competition is now 1-1-3, and its record across all competitions is also 1-1-3. Union de Santa Fe’s record across all competitions matches its competition mark. Newell’s Old Boys’ overall record also matches its competition record. The point was Union’s second draw in the competition and Newell’s third. The draw leaves both sides still searching for consistent form in the competition, though Union will take encouragement from earning a point on the road.

Union de Santa Fe had entered the match after a 3-1 home win over Estudiantes L.P. and a 1-1 draw at Dep. Riestra, with earlier losses to Defensa y Justicia and Boca Juniors. Newell’s Old Boys had drawn 0-0 at San Lorenzo and at home to Lanus, beaten Central Cordoba SdE 2-1 and lost at Gimnasia Mendoza. Those results framed a meeting between teams still working to climb the competition table.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Newell’s Old Boys 1, Union de Santa Fe 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Newell’s Old Boys with an 87.9 percent probability to win. Newell’s Old Boys 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 2.5.