Argentino de Merlo Seizes Control, Dispatches Villa Dalmine 3-1 in Primera B Metropolitana Showdown
A brisk spring night at Estadio Juan Carlos Brieva provided the setting for Argentino de Merlo’s decisive 3-1 victory over Villa Dalmine—a result that not only underscored Merlo’s recent resurgence but also reshaped the contours of the Primera B Metropolitana’s playoff race.
Argentino de Merlo, having oscillated between impressive wins and frustrating defeats over the past month, arrived with a point to prove. The sting of last week's narrow loss at Flandria still lingered in the home locker room, but so too did the confidence born from recent high-scoring triumphs against Liniers and Comunicaciones. For Villa Dalmine, a side that had strung together a run of four wins in their previous five, tonight represented a litmus test: could their compact midfield and efficient front line overcome Merlo’s attacking verve and the feverish energy of the Juan Carlos Brieva crowd?
From the outset, Merlo asserted themselves, threading passes crisply through the midfield and asking early questions of Dalmine’s defense. The breakthrough came in the 32nd minute. After a period of sustained pressure, Merlo found their opener, breaking the deadlock with a sharp low finish following a well-crafted move down the right flank. The goal, struck with conviction, marked a critical momentum shift—a release of tension that allowed the hosts to settle into their rhythm.
Despite flashes of danger from Villa Dalmine—whose recent match-winners, Federico Sellecchia and Facundo Pumpido, seemed poised to threaten—Merlo held firm. The first half closed with the home side holding their slender advantage, but Dalmine, galvanised by the urgency of the occasion, emerged for the second half with purpose. The visitors, ticking up their intensity, sought an equalizer that would keep their playoff ambitions firmly on track.
Yet, as the clock ticked deep into the second half, Merlo struck again. In the 78th minute, a set-piece routine yielded dividends: the ball pinged about the penalty area before a Merlo attacker bundled it home. The goal, a testament to both Merlo’s persistence and Dalmine’s defensive frailty under pressure, sent the home supporters into rapture and left the visitors chasing shadows.
With defeat looming, Dalmine staged a late rally. In the 88th minute, their efforts bore fruit—an incisive move in transition culminated in a goal that offered a flicker of hope, reducing the deficit to 2-1. For a brief moment, tension pulsed through the stadium: could the guests conjure a dramatic comeback?
Argentino de Merlo answered that question emphatically just two minutes later. In stoppage time, the hosts capitalized on Dalmine’s desperation, surging forward to net their third goal—a clinical finish that sealed the contest and restored the home side’s two-goal cushion.
The final whistle confirmed Merlo’s superiority, and the implications were immediate. After a patchwork run of form—two wins and two losses in their last four—Merlo’s victory tonight marked a critical correction, signaling their intent to stake a claim in the upper reaches of the league. Dalmine, meanwhile, tasted a rare setback in a campaign otherwise characterized by dogged resilience and timely victories.
This result will reverberate through Primera B Metropolitana’s standings. Argentino de Merlo now positions themselves squarely among the playoff contenders, their confidence buoyed by a string of high-scoring performances at home. The win is a welcome tonic after their recent stumble against Flandria and offers reassurance that their attacking enterprise can overcome the league’s sternest defenses.
For Villa Dalmine, the loss is a sobering reminder of the narrow margins that define promotion races. Their previous victories—including narrow wins over Argentino Quilmes and Fénix, fuelled by the finishing prowess of Sellecchia and Pumpido—had suggested a side peaking at the right time. Tonight, however, lapses in concentration proved costly.
Head-to-head history between these clubs has favored tight contests, often decided by a solitary goal or late drama. But tonight, Merlo’s confidence and execution created a gap Villa Dalmine could not bridge.
Looking ahead, Argentino de Merlo will seek to consolidate their momentum with fixtures that could further solidify their playoff claims. The attacking chemistry on display tonight, particularly their ability to strike late, sets a template for the final stretch of the season. Villa Dalmine, for their part, must regroup quickly lest one defeat become a trend; the character shown in their previous comebacks will be indispensable as they aim to reassert themselves among the top challengers.
If tonight was a statement, it was clear: Argentino de Merlo is not just chasing the pack—they’re leading it, at least for now, with a performance that combined urgency, quality, and resolve when it mattered most.