Copa de la Liga: Fecha 3 & 4
Fecha 3 and 4 of the Copa de la Liga included a test between the two promoted sides; Racing finally getting into their stride; a storm at Independiente and Estudiantes maintaining their perfect start to the season.
Fecha 3
Promoted teams face-off
Both of last season’s promoted sides went head-to-head as Tigre met Barracus Central at the Claudio Fabián Tapia Stadium.
On the 41st minute Facundo Colidio, whose pace was causing problems for the Barracus defence, found Pablo Magnín in the box, who volleyed into the bottom corner to give El Matador the lead.
Ijiel César Protti then made it 2-0 on the 68th minute with a fantastic solo goal to claim the first win of the season for Diego Martínez’s side.
⏹ ¡FINAL DEL PARTIDO!
¡GANÓ EL MATADOR! 🐯
Barracas Central 0️⃣-2️⃣ Tigre
⚽️ Magnín y Protti #VamosMatador💙❤️💙 pic.twitter.com/Yce81367xA
— Club Atlético Tigre (@catigreoficial) February 21, 2022
Racing get off the mark
Argentinos Juniors had the chance to make it three wins out of three and match Estudiantes’ perfect start to the season. However, they came up against a Racing side who were finally hitting top form after two successive draws.
La Academia took the lead on the 19th minute when Javier Correa delightfully chipped the ball over Federico Lanzillota and into the net. Carlos Alcaraz then doubled their advantage in the second half with a powerful header from a Tomás Chancalay corner.
¡Lindo gol de Javier Correa! 🥳#Racing 1-0 #ArgentinosJuniors pic.twitter.com/gqmqRht35r
— La LPF ARGENTINA 2022 🇦🇷 (@ligaAFAGOLES) February 23, 2022
A 3-0 victory was then sealed as Lanzillota was lobbed again this time by substitute Enzo Copetti with an impressive dink. A finish so good it was easy to forget Gabriel Hauche’s acute back-healed assist.
Although El Bicho had more possession in 54% possession, it was what Fernando Gago’s side did with the ball that was crucial to their win as they had 20 shots with 10 of them being on target.
Fecha 4
Boca draw despite Benedetto double
It was a bright start for Xeneizes against Independiente as they took the lead on the 17th minute as Darío Benedetto slotted his penalty into the bottom corner after Sebastián Villa was brought down in the box.
Poor defending from a corner however allowed Gastón Togni the space to level the score for El Rojo. But it was not long before Benedetto had his side back in the lead as he fired in a fantastic strike with his left foot into the top corner just before half-time.
Despite Boca taking the lead in what some see as the perfect time, the game took a turn for the worse for Sebastián Battaglia’s side. Frank Fabra was sent off for a second bookable offence on the 70th minute. Then as heavy rain fell on the Estadio Libertadores de América, the home side equalised again as Lucas Rodríguez’s cross found Alan Soñora who tapped in to rescue a point for his side at 2-2.
Students still on 100%
Estudiantes made it four wins out of four as they beat Arsenal Sarandi in a five goal thriller. The first half saw neither side able to break the deadlock but Matías Pellegrini got things going on the 50th minute as he fired the ball into the top corner to give Los Pincharratas the lead.
However, it took just three minutes for Arsenal to equalise as Joaquín Ibáñez’s shot from the edge of the box flew past Mariano Andújar. Leandro Díaz got Estudiantes back in-front with a header on the 67th minute.
But Los del Viaducto responded three minutes later again as Sebastián Lomonaco found space to fire in from a tight angle. Substitute Mauro Boselli came on on the 73rd minute and won it for Ricardo Zielinski’s side 5 minutes later as his accurate header squeezed past Axel Werner to secure a 3-2 victory.
⏱ ¡¡¡FINAL!!! ¡GANÓ ESTUDIANTES! En un partido muy cambiante, derrotamos a @ArsenalOficial en casa y sumamos otras 3⃣ unidades para mantener el puntaje ideal en la #CopaBinance #ElPinchaRuge 🦁🇦🇹
#EDLP 3 – 2 #Arsenal
⚽ Pellegrini, Díaz y Boselli / Ibañez y Lomónaco pic.twitter.com/IFy9WXzxYc— Estudiantes de La Plata (@EdelpOficial) February 27, 2022
Game of two halves in River against Racing
River Plate and Racing played out an entertaining draw. Los Millonarios took the lead on the 26th minute when Esequiel Barco scored a fine goal from outside the box.
Their lead was then doubled as Nicolás de la Cruz fired in just before half time after some great passing play from his side.
The second half saw the tide turn against River. La Academia got one back on the 62nd minute as Gabriel Hauche’s cross was headed in by Enzo Copetti. The comeback was then complete on the 82nd minute as Leonel Miranda’s header beat Franco Armani.
TODOS JUNTOS 💙 pic.twitter.com/Al8eIYjo0U
— Racing Club (@RacingClub) February 28, 2022
Marcelo Gallardo would have been disappointed to let a two goal lead slip especially as his side had 57% of possession. However, at the end of the day it is what you do with the ball that counts and Fernando Gago’s side just edged it on shots with 14 to River’s 13 which was key to his teams comeback.
