Written by Darren Paul

An opening-minute Augusto Lotti strike was enough to seal the three points for Atlético Tucumán away from Independiente and steal the top spot. Ramiro Ruiz Rodriguez timed his run to perfection to collect a through ball that cut apart the Independiente defence before playing in Lotti to power home the game-winning goal in Platense’s stadium. 

Throughout the game, the hosts were certainly the more attack-minded, with 11 shots in total, but with only three on target, they struggled to cause Tucumán much trouble.  Sergio Barreto had VAR to thank for remaining on the field at the half-hour mark, the centre-back was initially sent off for kicking Tucuman’s Francisco Di Franco in the head, but after a second look the referee Fernando Echenique changed his decision to a yellow card for a high boot hitting the midfielder in the shoulder. 

Gabriel Hachen had Independiente’s best chance of the game, attacking down the left flank he fired a shot on goal that was parried onto the post and out to safety by Carlos Lampe in the Tucumán goal, as Independiente’s terrible 2022 continues. 

Argentinos Juniors were top of the table heading into Fecha 10, but a one-one draw away to Banfield has demoted Gabriel Milito’s outfit to second in the standings. Banfield took the lead late in the first half thanks to a beautiful strike from Emanuel Coronel, the visitors cleared a freekick out of the area but Coronel struck it perfectly, curling it through a sea of bodies and clipping in the inside of the far post on its way into the back of the net. Argentinos have Federico Lanzillota to thank for keeping them in the contest as before the break the stopper denied a great chance, one-on-one from Agustín Urzi.

Argentinos’ Gabriel Carabajal came agonizingly close to tying the contest in the second, after a jinking run his placed finished was put just over the bar. Both sides hit the woodwork as they traded long-range efforts. Banfield’s Luis Mago rifled a one-time effort off the crossbar before Gabriel Carabajal was afforded too much room in the middle of the park and hit the post from 30 yards out. 

Argentinos kept pushing on goal deep into extra time, Javier Cabrera timed his run driving in on goal, but he was brought down by Alejandro Maciel in the area. 11 minutes into stoppage time Miguel Torrén stepped up and held his nerve to clinch the draw at the death for Argentinos. 

Racing Club rebounded after a frustrating fecha nine draw to take a strong win away at struggling Central Córdoba. Central started brightly, with an early chance being headed just over the bar by Francisco González Metilli. Racing was clearly targeting the in-form Enzo Copetti with crosses, but early he met fierce resistance from the Central defenders until the 27th-minute mark.  Jonathan Galván played a low cross into the area that Copetti met with a flick-on header to guide the ball by César Rigamonti to give Racing the lead. Copetti doubled the advantage four minutes into the second half, meeting a floated Gabriel Hauche ball with a cushioned header into the far corner. 

The hosts pulled a goal back on 75-minutes, Renzo López beat the offside trap and deftly chipped the ball in off the crossbar passed the onrushing Gastón Gómez. Despite pressure from the hosts, Racing put the game beyond doubt with five minutes to play, Carlos Alcaraz converting from a Matias Rojas cross to move Racing to third in the standings. 

Gimnasia remains in the top five thanks to their one-nil victory at home against ten-man Lanús. Gimnasia withstood early pressure from Lanús before Brahian Alemán converted a 29th-minute penalty after a cross struck the arm of a Lanús defender. Maximiliano González had the chance to equalise in the first half, but decided to take a touch with the goal gaping, and blasted his effort high into the stands. Julian Aude received his marching orders for Lanus for two yellow cards, one of which was a touch harsh. Both sides had chances to in the second half, but ultimately Gimnasia were worth their win. 

Unión leap into the top five thanks to their nail-biting two-one win over Godoy Cruz at home. After a great start by Godoy Cruz, calling Union’s keeper Santiago Mele into action on a number of occasions Imanol Machuca stunned the visitors with a cleverly worked corner to the edge of the area and a deceptively curling shot that left Diego Rodríguez flatfooted. Godoy was down to ten men shortly into the second half Guillermo Ortíz received a second yellow for illegally blocking Juan Nardoni by elbowing him in the chest. Godoy Cruz thought they’d levelled the contest, however, their effort was ruled out for offside. 

Kevin Zenón secured the victory for Union in the 92nd minute taking down a cross-field ball perfectly and beating Rodríguez from a tight angle. The visitors pulled one back in the 96th minute, Enzo Larrosa with a strong header low into the net but time was against them as Unión held out for the win. 

Boca bounced back from their midweek loss to Argentinos with a three-one thumping against Estudiantes de La Plata. Guillermo Fernández got the scoring started after 10 minutes with an acrobatic volley having been afforded far too much room in the six-yard box. Estudiantes had the ball in the net, after a brilliant strike from distance by Pablo Piatti but it was correctly ruled out for an offside in the buildup.

Marcos Rojo doubled the advantage just before the hour-mark the Boca captain scoring with a magnificent strike from the edge of the D, firmly into the top corner.  Sebastián Villa finished off the scoring for Boca with an audacious finish from over 30 yards out. Villa was sent through on goal, and with just an onrushing Mariano Andújar to beat, elected to place his shot into the far corner from distance. Jorge Morel pulled one back for the visitors heading in from close range, but it was nothing more than a consolation goal as Boca move up to 11th. 

Aldosivi remains rooted to the bottom of the table after their three-nil loss to River in a late five-minute smash and grab. Aldosivi held their own for 70 minutes on the contest on a foggy evening in Mar del Plata until Agustín Palavecino finally broke the deadlock, poking the ball home from close range after a cushioned chest down from Miguel Borja. Lucas Beltrán had River’s second just two minutes later, Borja once again instrumental as he was found with a through ball and after holding up the ball selflessly played in Lucas Beltrán to finish into an empty goal. River’s victory was confirmed just three minutes after, Borja pouncing on a chase down from Lucas Beltrán, sending the ball around the defender before netting a cool finish to cap off a fine performance from the substitute.