How quickly things change – in 2015 supporters in Mendoza were close to rioting when Gabriel Heinze was manager and La Tomba were struggling for results but on Saturday afternoon a fifth league won saw Godoy Cruz go top of zone one. It wasn’t as emphatic as some of their victories this season but Santiago García pounced on a defensive error during the first half to score his sixth of the season and provide the home side another three points.
Independiente notched up a third straight win but were once again far from convincing in narrowly beating Patronato in Avellaneda. Mauricio Carrasco fired the visitors in front and the visitors would have gone in ahead at the break had it not been for a moment of stupidity from Walter Andrade and perhaps some harsh refereeing from Patricio Loustau. The defender tangled with Germán Denis as a cross came in and a wayward arm caught the back of the Independiente striker’s head prompting Loustau to point to the spot and brandish a red card. Denis tucked away the spot kick and with a man less, the second half was dominated by the home side. Despite seeing much of the ball, Mauricio Pellegrino’s side failed to work Sebastián Bértoli but eventually found a winner when Víctor Cuesta headed in from close range. El Rojo climb to third in the table but still need to improve.
In La Paternal, Argentinos Juniors worrying form continued with a second half collapse that allowed Atlético Tucumán to leave with a comfortable 3-0 win. Rodrigo Aliendro slotted the visitors ahead just after half time and when Los Bichos defence began resembling a set of training cones rather than players, El Decano played around them with ease and allowed substitute Juan Govea to double the lead. Cristian Menéndez scored his fifth of the season when he thumped one past Federico Lanzillota from 30 yards and while Atlético Tucumán deserve enormous credit for joining Lanús and Estudiantes temporarily at the top of zone two but Los Bichos look in real trouble.
golazo argentino 