San Martín Defeats Nueva Chicago to Keep Promotion Hopes Alive

San Martín de San Juan defeated Nueva Chicago 1-0 at the Estadio República de Mataderos in the match closing the 35th round of the Primera Nacional championship, Zona B. The outcome leaves Nueva Chicago mired in the relegation zone while significantly boosting the visiting team's aspirations of qualifying for the "reducido" mini-tournament, which offers a second promotion path to the professional league.

The decisive moment of the contest occurred two minutes into the second half. Forward Nazareno Fúnez capitalized on a clearance by the local defense and struck a powerful shot that beat goalkeeper Facundo Masuero, who had entered at the start of the half to replace Luciano Jache.

Entering the match under immense pressure following a difficult week that included playing without fans due to security concerns and internal turmoil, Nueva Chicago struggled to find an equalizer. The defeat keeps the team, often called "Torito," with 36 points, dangerously positioned just below Patronato, which holds 37 points in the safety zone, and Chacarita with 39 points. Güemes sits at the bottom of the standings with 26 points.

For San Martín, led by manager Alejandro Schiapparelli, the victory was a vital response following a home draw against Temperley. The squad entered the stadium needing a win to keep pace in a fiercely competitive race for the final postseason berths, responding to a challenging week where rival results had narrowed their margin for error.

The battle to avoid relegation will reach its climax during the upcoming final round of matches. Nueva Chicago is scheduled to travel to Villa Maipú to face Chacarita in a direct confrontation that will heavily dictate the sporting future of both clubs. Meanwhile, Patronato will visit Atlético Rafaela to defend its position in the division.

In the final fixtures of the regular season, San Martín will return home to host Gimnasia y Esgrima, needing another strong performance to secure its postseason ambitions. Both upcoming decisive matches are scheduled to kick off simultaneously, promising a tense conclusion to the Primera Nacional campaign.