Lanus back to winning ways, A goalscoring goalkeeper and Boca rescue point in dramatic fashion. This and much more in this week’s Argentine Superliga round-up
Friday
Youngster AgustĂn Maziero helped Rosario Central to a 3-1 victory over Chacarita. The 20-year old came on with the score still tied at 1-1. He put Central in front with a diving header and secured their victory with a furious shot that crashed against the underside of the bar. A good win for Central while Chacarita will most likely spend their next season in the Primera B again. Rosario Central 3 x 1 Chacarita.
Lanus finally got back to winning ways with an impressive victory in Santa Fe. Colon took the lead via the spot and all looked fine when they were awarded another penalty 10 minutes later. Javier Correa, however, missed his chance from the spot. It even got worse for Colon as Matias Fritzler got sent off for a second yellow on the stroke of halftime. Lanus managed to capitalize and turned their 1-0 deficit around with goals from Acosta and Bruno Vides. They wouldn’t finish the match with 11 men either but managed to hold on to their lead. A good win for the visitors who have very little to play for. Colon 1 x 2 Lanus.
Omar de Felippe got off to a good start last week as Newell’s manager but the Rosario-based club fell just short at the hands-off Argentinos jrs. Nicolás Gonzalez scored the only goal of the game in what was a deserved victory for El Bicho. Argentinos jrs 1 x 0 Newell’s.
Saturday
Huracan narrowly edged Temperley in the early kick-off on Saturday. El Globo took a comfortable 0-2 lead in the first half via Chavez and Ignacio Pussetto. Temperley did something back via Franco Sosa but it proved to be nothing more than a consolation goal. Another three points for Huracan who look to be save from relegation. Temperley 1 x 2 Huracan.
San Martin finally got back to winning ways as they comfortably saw off Gimnasia. Nicolas Mana, Claudio Spinelli and goalkeeper Luis Ardente all scored one each. The latter lifted his tally up to 4 being their penalty taker. Youngster Claudio Spinelli has been the revelation so far for San Martin: He’s either scored or assisted 5 out of San Martin’s last 7 goals ( 4 Goals, 1 Assist). San Martin 3 x 0 Gimnasia.
Youngsters Nicolás Reniero and Nahuel Barrios inspired San Lorenzo to a 2-0 victory over Primera B bound Olimpo. Reniero was crucial up front in Ciclon’s build-up play while Barrios scored an absolute thunderbolt of a goal to open the scoring. San Lorenzo still has an 8-point gap with Boca if they manage to win their game in hand. A gap that seems too big to overcome. Ciclon will, however, be keen on a top 4 finish to guarantee themselves a Copa Libertadores spot for next season. San Lorenzo 2 x 0 Olimpo.
Talleres continued their great form with a narrow victory over Defensa y Justicia. Juan Ramirez scored the only goal of the game which ended with just 19 players on the pitch. Santiago Silva got sent off for Talleres after receiving his second yellow. Defensa finished the match with 9 men: Alexander Barboza earned a deserved red for a nasty elbow while Lisandro Martinez received his second yellow minutes earlier. It’s, however, another good win for Talleres who are surprisingly in 2nd, on 41 points.
Sunday
Racing secured another convincing victory which stretched their unbeaten streak up to 8 matches. They were too strong for Patronato in a ridiculously early kick-off (11 am): 5 x 0. CB-pairing Sigali and Donatti gifted Racing a comfortable 2-0 lead with two headers. Licha Lopez then made it 3-0 on the stroke of halftime as he got on the end of a deadly counterattack. Donatti scored his second of the game in the second half while Lautaro Martinez lifted the scoreline to 5-0 with a delicate chip. A convincing win for Racing who’ve looked excellent under Chacho Coudet. Racing 5 x 0 Patronato.
Gabriel Heinze’s Velez shared a point with Arsenal, who have little to play for. Velez are somewhat in a relegation battle but only an incredibly poor run could see them feature in the Primera B next season. Mauro Zaraté’s penalty was cancelled out by Diego Chaves shortly before halftime. Arsenal 1 x 1 Velez Sarsfield.
Estudiantes were somewhat surprisingly beaten at home by Godoy Cruz, who picked up their second consecutive victory on the road. An absolute howler from Mario Andujár saw Guillermo Fernandez hitting the back of the net with a poor effort from long range. It proved to be the only goal of the game as Estudiantes weren’t able to get past Godoy Cruz’s goalie Leonardo Burian. The Mendoza-based side are one of the surprise packages of the season sitting way up in 3rd. Estudiantes 0 x 1 Godoy Cruz.
Boca Juniors rescued a point in stoppage time away at Atletico Tucumán. The league leaders lost the Supercopa in midweek against archrivals River Plate and almost lost again in Tucumán. A header from Javier Toledo put the hosts in front but Walter Bou rescued a point late on for the visitors. Boca’s lead at the top of the table is still 7 points despite their result over the weekend. A gap that should be enough for them to win the Superliga title. Atletico Tucumán 1 x 1 Boca Juniors.
As said above River Plate did indeed win the Supercopa in a so far disappointing season. It may, however, be a spark for them which could revive their season. They faced a tough Belgrano side in the Monumental on Sunday evening. Pity Martinez opened the scoring early on but Epifanio Garcia equalized thirty minutes later. River did, however, manage to pick up a win in an already lost season. Substitute Ignacio Scocco scored a brace to gift River all three points. Still not an amazing performance but a good result nonetheless. River 3 x 1 Belgrano.
Monday
Flying-high Union secured a 0-2 over an inconsistent Banfield side. First-half goals from Mauro Pitton and Franco Fragapane secured all three points for the visitors, who’ve moved back up to 7th place. A good win for the Santa Fe-based side. Banfield 0 x 2 Santa Fe.
The last game of Fecha 20 was between Tigre and Independiente in Victoria, Buenos Aires. Sylvio Romero scored his first goal for Independiente just three minutes into the game but Tigre managed to equalize eventually. Both sides had plenty of chances to score at least another in this game but none of these chances went in. A somewhat disappointing draw for Independiente while Tigre doesn’t really benefit from a draw. Tigre 1 x 1 Independiente.