Vélez Sarsfield have looked far from their best under new manager Mauricio Pellegrino so far but with victory over Huracán in Parque Patricios, the Fortineros went top of Group 6 and look in good shape to progress to the Fase Campeonato.

The visitors took lead through Lucas Janson after 27 minutes, the former Tigre forward heading in Federico Mancuello’s corner but a horrible mix-up between Vélez goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos and his centre backs gifted Norberto Briasco an equaliser.

Huracán weren’t level for long and on the stroke of half time Janson nodded down a cross from the right allowing Cristian Tarragona to score his first since joining Vélez.

During a lacklustre second half Huracán never looked like turning things round and so Vélez secured a deserved win to remain unbeaten and in control of Group 6. Gimnasia in need of a win over Patronato on Monday to keep pace.

In Group 2, Colón booked their place in the Fase Campeonato with a 2-0 win over Defensa y Justicia while an unbeaten but thoroughly unimpressive Independiente failed to take the opportunity to follow.

Cristian Bernardi headed his third goal of the tournament to break the deadlock and although Defensa y Justicia had some glorious opportunities to level in the second half, 18-year-old Facundo Farías sealed the win for El Sabalero on the counter.

Independiente fielded a largely second-string side with a Copa Sudamericana trip to Montevideo next week but will know that it was another missed opportunity on Saturday night. Central Córdoba were the visitors to Avellaneda and while the visitors failed to register a single shot on target, El Rojo were almost equally blunt in attack.

The goalless draw means Independiente still have work to do from the final two fixtures to ensure they follow Colón into the next round. The main concern though Wednesday’s Sudamericana clash with Fénix and a possible ankle injury sustained by Alan Franco.