Colón’s domestic form has certainly not been that of a side waiting to play in the Copa Sudamericana final but Pablo Lavallén’s side had enough to hand bottom of the table Godoy Cruz a ninth defeat from ten games on Monday evening.
The visitors may have felt a little hard done by last time out when defeated by Gimnasia with nine men and luck wasn’t shining on them again in Santa Fe when Kevin Gutiérrez volleyed against the crossbar from close range rather than break the deadlock.
Instead former player Fernando Zuqui’s heavily deflected shot from distance flew past Andrés Mehring to give Colón a 23rd minute lead.
While the opener owed much to good fortune, Colón’s second was all about the magic of La Pulga. Luis Rodríguez danced his way through the Godoy Cruz defence and squared the ball for strike partner Wilson Morelo to tap in.
Leandro Vella did manage to pull a goal back before the break after Gutiérrez turned in the box and saw his initial effort saved but it failed to set up a fight back in the second half.
Colón held on for three points but will be concerned by the image of Rodríguez limping off in stoppage time with the Copa Sudamericana final less than three weeks away.
Colón 2 – 1 Godoy Cruz
Earlier in Santiago del Estero, Gabriel Milito may have just saved his job at Estudiantes after a 1-0 win over ten-man Central Córdoba.
The two sides had met less than a week ago with the Ferroviario booking a place in the Copa Argentina semi-final at the expense of El Pincha and it had left Milito on borrowed time.
Monday evening’s meeting was reported to be win or bust for the former Argentina international and after an edgy first 45 minutes, Estudiantes were boosted by the sending off of Nicolás Correa, the defender guilty of pulling back Manuel Castro for a second booking.
Soon after Estudiantes made their numerical advantage count as a deep cross to the back post found Facundo Sánchez and the full-back headed down past Diego Rodríguez.
A vital win that should keep Milito in work for a little while longer while Central Córdoba drop back into the relegation zone.
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