Two Superliga clubs remained undefeated this season before Saturday and now Defensa y Justicia stand alone after Atlético Tucumán became the latest side to come unstuck in Mendoza against Godoy Cruz.
El Tomba had looked as though their form of last season had escaped them only a few weeks ago but captain Santiago García is back among the goals and the Uruguayan’s winner against Atlético was a third straight win.
An uneventful first half was interrupted moments before referee Pablo Echavarría called time on proceedings when Rodrigo Aliendro tripped Angel González allowing García to slot in from the penalty spot.
Given how freely Atlético have scored this season, the visitors would have still fancied their chances of getting something from the game and that confidence will only have been boosted when Godoy Cruz full-back Luciano Abecasis was harshly shown a red card.
With 35 minutes still to play Atlético assumed control. David Barbona crashed a free-kick against the angle of post and bar with goalkeeper Roberto Ramírez rooted to the spot but Atlético couldn’t find the equaliser.
The result meant Godoy Cruz climbed to fourth, level on the same points as Atlético still in second, but that could change by the end of the weekend and perhaps more importantly Racing Club could go seven points clear at the top.
Godoy Cruz 1 – 0 Atlético Tucumán
Earlier in Mar del Plata, Banfield secured an impressive 4-1 win over an Aldosivi side that had previously looked strong on their own patch.
Welcoming Jesús Dátalo back into the starting eleven, Banfield immediately looked more of a threat offensively and after 13 minutes the visitors led as Darío Cvitanich rounded off a sensational counter.
A side that ordinarily struggles for goals almost immediately doubled their lead, Dátolo sweeping a low shot into the bottom corner and remarkably before half time it was three as Cvitanich squared for Luciano Gómez to tap in.
Nicolás Silva’s deflected strike made it four after 66 minutes and although Denis Stracqualursi pulled one back late on, it was far too late.
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