It took a 97th minute penalty from Jesús Dátolo but Banfield made it two wins from two in the Fase Campeonato to lead the way in Group B.

A scrappy Agustín Fontana goal after only two minutes had given Banfield a dream start from Gimnasia’s visit to the Estadio Florencio Sola on Monday evening but a Matías García header equally early in the second half looked to earn the visitors a point.

Even after Marcelo Weigandt was sent off for a wild challenge on Agustín Urzi, Gimnasia held firm until late in stoppage time. A clumsy tackle by Patricio Monti gifted Banfield a spot kick and Dátolo gratefully sealed the points.

Vélez Sarsfield also maintained a 100% start to the second phase of the Copa Diego Maradona with a 2-0 win over Central Córdoba in Group B of the Fase Complementacion.

Just like Banfield the goals came at either end of the game, Ricardo Álvarez breaking the deadlock early with a wonderful left-footed free-kick.

Central Córdoba will feel they did enough to earn at least a point but either the frame of the goal or Lucas Hoyos denied them before Cristian Tarragona tucked in Vélez’s second in injury time.

With six points apiece, Vélez and Newell’s look to be battling to win the group with a five-point lead already opened up over the rest of the sides.

Things in Group A of the Fase Complementacion are a little tighter after Rosario Central were held to a 2-2 draw by Unión.

The Canalla had the chance to go top outright with a second victory but found themselves behind early on when 19-year-old Gaston Gonzalez sliced through the Central defence to give Unión the lead.

A Matías Nani own goal and another for youngster Alan Marinelli turned things around for Central before the break but Javier Cabrera’s powerful strike earned Unión a draw.

Central, Defensa y Justicia and Lanús all sit with four points with three games to play.