Another chapter in what has been an incredible 18 months in the history of Atlético Tucumán’s was completed on Friday evening as El Decano sealed a place in the Copa Argentina final after a penalty victory over Rosario Central in Formosa.

Promotion into the top flight, a place in the Copa Libertadores, a run in the Copa Sudamericana and now a chance to lift the Copa Argentina have given supporters in Tucumán greater reasons to cheer than at any point in their history.

Central may wonder how they didn’t clinch a spot but Cristian Lucchetti’s second half penalty save denied El Canalla and when Federico Carrizo rattled the crossbar it appeared as though it wouldn’t be the Rosarinos night.

This run to the semis had kept Paolo Montero in his job after a winless start to the Superliga season so when the tie went to penalties, the Uruguayans future was in the balance.

Lucchetti had already saved one spotkick in normal time but had injured himself in the process, meaning his replacement Alejandro Sánchez had the chance to shine.

Helped by some wasteful Central efforts, Sánchez saved from Mauricio Martínez to complete a 3-1 win and take their place in the final. If River Plate defeat Deportivo Morón in the other semi as expected, Atlético have a return to the Copa Libertadores already confirmed.