Centro Español Rallies Past Victoriano Arenas With Dominant Second Half

With a decisive three-goal surge after halftime, Centro Español overturned an early deficit to claim a 3-1 victory over Victoriano Arenas on Monday, further cementing their climb up the congested mid-table in Argentina’s Primera C. The result extended Centro Español’s unbeaten run to five matches, while Victoriano Arenas’ winless streak deepened, leaving them mired in the lower reaches of the standings.

An Early Shock, Then a Relentless Response

For much of the first half, the contest at the as-yet-undisclosed venue followed a familiar script in this rivalry: tense, physical, and tightly contested. Victoriano Arenas, having lost both of the last two meetings against Centro Español—including a bruising 0-1 defeat just a week prior—showed early purpose. Their efforts were rewarded in the 34th minute, as Victoriano Arenas found the breakthrough with a strike that momentarily silenced the home support.

With the visitors taking a 1-0 lead into the halftime interval, Centro Español faced both the scoreboard and a lingering narrative—one of missed opportunities and squandered dominance in recent head-to-heads. The away side, desperate to halt a slide that has seen them win just once in their last nine matches, looked set for a rare reversal.

But the second half would tell a different story, one written with the kind of resilience that has come to define Centro Español’s late-season push.

Momentum Shifts, Then Snaps

The turning point arrived in the 59th minute. Centro Español, having poured forward in search of an equalizer, finally found reward as they leveled the match. The goal was both the product of sustained pressure and a sign of growing confidence; the crowd’s response hinted they sensed the tide turning.

Just eight minutes later, in the 67th, Centro Español struck again. This time, their attack cut open the Victoriano Arenas defense, and with the finish, the home side surged ahead 2-1. For Victoriano Arenas, the rapid reversal proved destabilizing—and matters would soon deteriorate further.

The match’s fate was effectively sealed in the 71st minute, when Victoriano Arenas were reduced to ten men following a red card. Outnumbered and outmaneuvered, the visitors lost what remained of their structure. It was only a matter of time before Centro Español capitalized again, and the final blow came in the 84th, the game’s third and decisive goal underscoring the hosts’ second-half dominance.

Recent Form and the Table’s Geometry

Monday’s victory continues a remarkable run for Centro Español, who have now collected 9 points from their last five matches (2W, 3D)—including two wins over Victoriano Arenas and an impressive 4-2 triumph earlier in August. Their form under pressure has been anything but fragile: a resolute draw at Estrella Del Sur, a steady 1-1 against Sportivo Barracas, and now back-to-back victories.

The results have propelled Centro Español to eighth place in the table, sitting on 30 points after 26 matches—a position that, depending on the league’s playoff structure, could offer a path toward greater ambitions or at the very least, a solid platform for the campaign’s closing stretch.

Victoriano Arenas, by contrast, are stuck in 13th, their 23 points a reflection of recurring struggles at both ends of the pitch. Winless in their last five, with just five victories all season and 13 losses, they will need a rapid recalibration to avoid slipping further into the Primera C’s lower ranks.

Rivalry, Redemption, and the Road Ahead

This latest chapter in the Centro Español–Victoriano Arenas rivalry adds another layer of intrigue. Not only have Centro Español won all three meetings between the teams this season—by a combined score of 8-3—but they have repeatedly demonstrated an ability to reverse adverse situations, particularly in critical second halves.

For Centro Español, the challenge is now to harness that momentum with an eye toward the playoff picture or higher mid-table stability. Their unbeaten run and growing confidence, forged in close contests and dramatic comebacks, suggest a side on the rise.

Victoriano Arenas face questions both tactical and mental: how to regroup after consecutive defeats to a direct rival, how to shore up a defense that has conceded seven goals in their last three outings, and how to generate enough attacking thrust to change narrative and fortune alike.

The season’s final third beckons, the margins growing ever thinner. For Centro Español, Monday’s result was not just a victory—it was a statement. For Victoriano Arenas, the search for answers continues.