Sportivo Dock Sud slipped to a 2-1 home defeat against Argentino de Merlo in their Argentine Group B Tebolidun League fixture, with the visitors producing a patient second-half comeback to take all three points.

Dock Sud made the brighter start and deservedly led at the break, but Argentino de Merlo grew into the contest after the interval, equalised through Matías Sosa and then found a late winner from Nicolás Benítez. The result gives Merlo a valuable away victory while leaving Dock Sud to reflect on a game they controlled for long spells without managing it to the finish.

Match overview

The home side set the tone early with an aggressive press and quick transitions through the middle. Dock Sud forced several corners in the opening quarter and looked the more dangerous team whenever Lautaro Ferreyra dropped between the lines. Argentino de Merlo, by contrast, initially sat deeper and looked to spring forward on the counter, but their passing lacked penetration until the second half.

After the restart, Merlo pushed their full-backs higher and began to win second balls in midfield. That shift changed the rhythm of the match. Dock Sud’s attacking threat faded as the game wore on, and the visitors’ improved control eventually told in the final third.

Key moments

• 18th minute – Sportivo Dock Sud 1-0: Lautaro Ferreyra opened the scoring after a smart exchange on the edge of the box, finishing low into the far corner.
• 56th minute – 1-1: Matías Sosa levelled for Argentino de Merlo with a first-time strike from the edge of the area after Dock Sud failed to clear a cross properly.
• 78th minute – 1-2: Nicolás Benítez completed the turnaround, arriving at the back post to convert a measured delivery from the right.
• 90th minute: Dock Sud pushed bodies forward in search of an equaliser, but Merlo defended their box with composure and cleared the final danger.

Tactical story

Dock Sud’s first-half plan worked well: they pressed high, forced Merlo into hurried clearances and created turnovers in promising areas. The problem was efficiency. Their lead remained fragile because they did not add a second goal during their best spell, and Merlo were able to stay in the game.

In the second half, Argentino de Merlo adjusted by tightening the central corridor and using wider outlets to stretch Dock Sud’s midfield. Once Sosa equalised, the visitors looked the more likely winners. Dock Sud’s substitutions added energy but not control, and the winning goal came from exactly the kind of wide delivery Merlo had been building toward.

Standout players

Matías Sosa was the catalyst for Argentino de Merlo, driving forward from midfield and taking his goal with real assurance. Nicolás Benítez’s movement in the box proved decisive, while the visitors’ goalkeeper made two important saves in the first half to keep the deficit manageable. For Dock Sud, Lautaro Ferreyra was the brightest attacking presence, but his early goal was not enough to settle the home side.

Table and season impact

The win strengthens Argentino de Merlo’s position in the Group B standings and gives them momentum heading into their next fixture. For Sportivo Dock Sud, the defeat is a missed opportunity to build on home advantage; they will need to convert promising spells into more goals if they are to climb the table consistently. The match report will read as a tale of two halves, with Dock Sud’s early control undone by Merlo’s sharper second-half execution.