Almirante Brown finally did not lose, and that is the story
Colón 2–2 Almirante Brown in Santa Fe on Saturday, a point clawed back twice away from home (1) (4). After three straight defeats, going to the Brigadier López and refusing to fold is something. Seven Primera Nacional matches without a win is still the headline, and eighth in Group A on 48 points with a goal difference of +4 is the table that follows them around (3).
The pattern is the same every week: they cannot hold a lead or kill a game
Look at the run. Chaco For Ever 1–0 on September 20, Acassuso 1–0 at home on September 26, San Telmo 3–2 on October 4. Three losses, three times Almirante Brown were second to the decisive moment. Then Almirante Brown 1–1 San Miguel on October 11, and Gerardo Alegre Rojas said afterwards: "No podemos permitir que nos siga pasando esto" (11). Montenegro was blunter: "Este era el partido para cortar la racha. El equipo estaba bien hasta que nos convirtieron el empate" (9) (10). That is the season in one sentence: good until the ball goes in.
In Santa Fe the roles flipped. Colón led twice, Almirante Brown answered twice, and it was Delfino complaining about impotence and "esto es por goles" (14) while Rasmussen talked about four clean sheets and a defensive block that had held (7). A relegation candidate does not leave the Brigadier López with that. Almirante Brown did, and Villalba was in the squad for the first time (6).
The point about this group is that the fight is intact even as the football stalls. Drawing twice in a week is not progress by itself. It is survival, and it keeps the Reducido within reach with three rounds left.
Deportivo Morón at home on October 25 is the last soft landing
Sunday's fixture at 19:30 is the one Montenegro has been waiting for, because home form has been the hole in the argument. Then Godoy Cruz away on October 31 closes it out. Almirante Brown are not going to out-play anybody over 90 minutes right now. But they can win one match, and a home crowd against Morón is the likeliest place. Watch whether Villalba starts. Watch whether the side that scored twice in Santa Fe shows up at the Fragmentos, or whether the side that conceded the equaliser to San Miguel does. Eighth place is not a cushion. It is a porch.
