In a tightly contested match between Gimnasia y Esgrima de Mendoza and Atletico Rafaela, the home team emerged victorious with a 2-1 win, primarily thanks to their marked dominance in both mid-field control and set-pieces. While both teams displayed high competitiveness, it was Gimnasia y Esgrima who capitalized effectively on their overall opportunities.

Gimnasia y Esgrima showcased superior offensive capabilities, recording eight corner kicks compared to Atletico Rafaela's single corner. This metric underlines their consistent pressure and ability to create scoring opportunities from set-pieces. Their efforts paid dividends in the second half when they netted their goals at crucial junctures, first at 01:20:15 and then doubling the lead shortly after at 01:23:24. Atletico Rafaela's relative lack of corner opportunities indicated a struggle in pressing forward and maintaining offensive momentum.

Defensively, Gimnasia y Esgrima held a solid line, dealing with potential threats efficiently. The balanced number of offsides (3 each) shows an evenly matched tactical awareness from both teams. However, Atletico Rafaela appeared to struggle with discipline, accruing three yellow cards, two of which were in the first half. This aggressive play impacted their second-half performance significantly, particularly after the third yellow at 01:15:31, which potentially led to more cautious defending and less assertive play.

Moreover, the timing of the goals was a decisive factor. After Gimnasia y Esgrima scored twice in quick succession, pressure mounted on Atletico Rafaela to respond. Despite reducing the deficit with a goal at 01:30:13, the effort came too late, compounded by the home team's effective game management in the closing stages. The sequence of yellow cards for Gimnasia y Esgrima, at 01:22:02 and 01:29:38, did not disrupt their rhythm significantly, as they maintained control and secured the win.

Effective utilization of set-pieces, superior match discipline, and critical timing of goals were the key factors that determined the outcome. Gimnasia y Esgrima's strategic execution allowed them to leverage their advantages, while Atletico Rafaela's late offensive push could not offset their earlier setbacks.

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