When the match seemed destined for penalties, the Argentina U-19 National Team found relief in the last minute. The team led by Diego Placente won 1-0 against Peru with a goal from Santiago Espíndola in the final minutes and secured their place in the final of the 2026 South American Games, where they will compete for the gold medal.
From the start, the Argentinian team took control and sought to impose conditions through ball circulation and associated play. Meanwhile, the Peruvian team tried to maintain a level playing field during the first minutes, although as the match progressed, they found themselves increasingly closer to their own goal.
The first clear chance for the Albiceleste came at 13, when Franco Domínguez took advantage of a mistake by goalkeeper Fabrisio Mesías, found himself in front of an empty goal, and entered the area with the possibility of opening the scoring, but his shot went wide of the near post.
From that point on, Placente's team would definitely take control. Ian Subiabre and Domínguez himself would be the most disruptive in attack, but they faced a tight defense and a Mesías who responded every time he was challenged.
The second half maintained the same tone. Argentina would push their lines even further forward, cornering their opponent and accumulating chances to break the deadlock. Domínguez would have two more clear opportunities, and Carrizo would also have a chance to score, but a lack of precision and the interventions of the Peruvian goalkeeper kept the score at 0-0.
Although everything suggested that the ticket to the final was destined to be decided by penalties, at 89 minutes, Espíndola would appear to avoid that scenario. After a play that started with a throw-in, the ball would be loose near the area, and the River midfielder would take the rebound to unleash a powerful right-footed shot that went in next to the right post, sealing the dramatic 1-0.
With this result, the Albiceleste not only secured their place in the grand final but also the certainty that they have already guaranteed a medal in the competition. The match for the gold medal will be this Friday, September 25 at the Coloso Marcelo Bielsa, with time yet to be confirmed, against the winner of the other bracket between Paraguay and Chile. With only two days between the semifinal and the decisive match, Placente and his players will have a limited window to recover energy before the tournament's final challenge.
