Independiente made it clear that their priorities lie with the Copa Sudamericana but a much-changed starting eleven just about managed to pick up another three points against Nueva Chicago in Avellaneda. When Juan Martín Lucero gave El Rojo an early lead it seemed as though Mauricio Pellegrino’s second string side would still be too strong for relegation threatened Chicago. Nicolás Gimenez fired in an equaliser and Independiente struggled to ever really take a grip of the game. With the home side heading for yet another draw, Uruguay international, Cristián ‘Cebolla’ Rodríguez headed a last minute winner and his first in Argentine football. Grinding out victory whilst not playing well has been something that Independiente have failed to do all season and as a result the high number of draws ended any hopes of challenging for the title.
In Liniers, Vélez fell to a third straight defeat after Ezequiel Cerutti’s low strike gave Estudiantes a 1-0 away win. Miguel Ángel Russo’s young side continue to struggle and find themselves down in 23rd while El Pincha climb to sixth and still remain in with a chance of bagging a Copa Libertadores playoff spot.
City rivals, Gimnasia remain a little off the pace but came from a goal down in El Bosque to claim a draw against Tigre. The visitors caught El Lobo by surprise with a quickly taken free-kick after nine minutes and Federico González punished the hosts with an assured finish. Gimnasia enjoyed the majority of possession and found a way back into the game after half-time when Maxi Coronel smashed in from close range. Neither side could find a winner and a share of the points was probably about right for two sides who remain in the group just below the top six.
Saturday’s football actually started at the ridiculously early time of 11am in Mar del Plata but Aldosivi and Huracán did not provide many reasons for a regular change to this time slot. A game low on incident ended goalless and both sides remain in the bottom half.
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