San José de Tandil beat San Lorenzo de Mar del Plata 1-0 at Estadio General San Martín and advanced to the regional decider of the Women's Torneo Regional Federal Amateur. The tie had opened with a 2-2 draw at Estadio Juan Montoya, so Melina Castro's goal in the 40th minute of the second half established a 3-2 aggregate victory for the Tandil side.
The match unfolded in strong wind and through a tight contest. San José assumed responsibility from the start, pushed their lines forward and tried to establish play in visiting territory. Ludmila Altamirano directed part of the midfield work, Priscila Rosse operated on the left and María Domínguez provided attacking movement. The home side's intentions, however, met a San Lorenzo team organised to close available spaces.
Territorial superiority did not immediately produce clean chances. During the first half, San José generated seven corners to the Mar del Plata side's one but struggled to convert that pressure into clear efforts inside the penalty area. San Lorenzo defended with numbers, disrupted the rhythm and preserved the 0-0 score. With the aggregate level, the tie was moving towards a penalty shootout.
Melina Castro's introduction for Altamirano 11 minutes into the second half changed the mobility of the Tandil attack. Milagros Palacio became more closely involved in holding midfield, while Castro moved towards the right. San José continued to search without losing balance. In the 38th minute, Palacio's quickly taken free-kick found Rosse, who reached the ball before goalkeeper Ana Osorio but guided it narrowly wide.
The decisive action came two minutes later. María Báez pressed Noelia Erede on the left, recovered possession and moved the ball to Castro. The substitute controlled and drove a low right-footed shot beyond Osorio. The 1-0 arrived in the 85th minute of the match and rewarded a change that had added energy, width and a new source of danger to the home attack.
San José managed the closing period with maturity and prevented San Lorenzo from finding the equaliser that would have sent the tie to penalties. Santiago Nieva's team protected Lara Baigorria's clean sheet and completed qualification against a firm opponent. The winning margin was not broad, but it reflected the more constant search and the ability to continue pressing until the end.
The Tandil side now await an opponent for the regional decider. Their route already contains two recoveries in the 2-2 draw in Mar del Plata and a late home victory, two matches settled in different circumstances. San Lorenzo ended their first experience in this competition with a narrow elimination. San José, by contrast, keep the national pathway open after surviving a tie that never allowed them to relax.
