Atlético Tucumán have already sealed their place back in the top flight after capturing the Nacional B title and now the sides placed second to fifth do battle to earn the second available spot. Both playoff semi-finals ended all square and so next week there must be a winner; Instituto or Patronato will face Santamarina or Ferro Carril Oeste for a coveted place in the Primera 2016.
Patronato finished 20 points above fifth placed Instituto in the league but there was little between them when they met on Thursday afternoon in Córdoba. The drama came late when in second half stoppage time, the home side were awarded a penalty which Jonathan Baumann converted. Los Albirrojos needed just to hold out for a minute to take an invaluable first leg advantage but with virtually the last kick of the game a second spot kick was awarded, this time for hand ball and Patronato goalkeeper, Sebastián Bértoli smashed in the equaliser.
In Tandil all the drama came early but there is still nothing between Santamarina and Ferro Carril Oeste ahead of next Wednesday’s second leg. Arnaldo González gave the home side lead after barely a minute with a fierce long range strike but not to be outdone, Guillermo Vernetti thumped Ferro level ten minutes later with an equally venemous shot from outside the box. The visitors led before half-time through Luís Salmerón but the first half goals did not end there. Fernando Telechea poked Santamarina back level from a corner and despite all the action in the opening 45 minutes it ended like that.
The return legs of both ties will be next Wednesday.
golazo argentino 