With each passing week the drama in Argentina’s Copa Binance continues to pile up. Fecha 4 and 5 of the Copa de la Liga saw Newell’s get back to winning ways, a shock defeat for Boca and late drama for Estudiantes.
Fecha 4
Old Boys back on track
The day after Leeds United sacked Newell’s legend Marcelo Bielsa, the club which renamed their stadium after their former player and manager were in action against Talleres de Córdoba.
𝗢𝗛 𝗠𝗬 𝗚𝗢𝗗 🎶
Kaiser Chiefs pic.twitter.com/ZzRV0ivAoK
— Newell’s Old Boys (@NewellsEnglish) February 27, 2022
Nicolás Castro put La Lepra ahead on the 57th minute with a stunning strike for outside the box. Their lead was then doubled after Juan Manuel García was brought down by Guido Herrera in the box. The resulting penalty was smashed in straight down the middle by Cristian Lema.
💣 ⚽️🔝 @NicoCastro36
— Newell’s Old Boys (@NewellsEnglish) March 1, 2022
Federica Girotti got one back for La T with a header on the 93rd minute but it was too little too late as Javier Sanguinetti’s side claimed a 2-1 victory which was their first win after two straight defeats. The feat also came with Newell’s having just 38% possession and less shots than their opposition at just 9 to Talleres’ 12.
Fecha 5
Barracas get first win
After four straight defeats, recently promoted side Barracas Central recorded their first win in the Copa de la Liga. In a match against Aldosivi at the Estadio Tomás Adolfo Ducó it was Tiburón who took the lead just before half-time as Martín Cauteruccio found space to shoot on the turn past Maximiliano Gagliardo.
However, Baraqueños responded brilliantly in the second half with Pablo Mouche levelling the score on the 59th minute with a great strike into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. Rodolfo de Paoli’s side were then ahead on the 64th minute as Neri Bandiera headed in a cross from Mouche.
⏰ final del partido
Barracas 2 – #Aldosivi 1
⚽️ Cauteruccio— Club Atl. Aldosivi (@clubaldosivi) March 5, 2022
Despite Tomás Lecanda being sent off just a minute after they were ahead, Barracas hung on to claim a 2-1 victory. An impressive victory for the home side who had just 33% possession but they made the difference with what counts with 10 shots with 6 of them being on target compared to Aldosivi’s 9 shots with just 3 on target.
River flowing well
River Plate went top of Group A on goal difference thanks to a victory over San Lorenzo at the Estadio Pedro Bidegain. Leandro González Pírez’s handball gave the home side a penalty on the 33rd minute. But Nicolás Fernández shot was straight down the middle and Franco Armani saved with his legs.
With striker Julian Alvarez getting injured in the warm up, Los Millonarios were lacking his killer instinct up front with Enzo Fernández and Brian Romero both being denied by the woodwork. The goal came from an unlikely source as defender Paulo Díaz headed in from a corner on the 37th minute against his former club to give Marcelo Gallardo’s side a 1-0 victory.
Boca lose to Huracán
Boca Juniors lost their first game of the season as in form Huracán arrived at La Bombonera having beaten Vélez Sarsfield in their last match. The home side were missing their top scorer Darío Benedetto who was injured and without him failed to hit the target with any of their 11 shots.
The deadlock was broken on the 70th minute as Matías Cóccaro header from a corner went in off the post. Eduardo Salvio hit the crossbar shortly afterwards but that was the closest Xeneizes got. Globo claimed a 1-0 victory despite having just 34% possession.
Estudiantes still unbeaten
Estudiantes dropped their first points of the season but remain undefeated thanks to a late goal against Vélez Sarsfield. Vélez took the lead in the 12th minute as Lucas Janson’s header found the back of the net after some great passing play.
It was looking like El Fortín were going to keep their opposition out and take the victory. However, on the 89th minute Emmanuel Mas’ cross with the outside of his boot was headed in by Leandro Diaz to rescue a 1-1 draw.
En las alturas mando yo 👊⚽ pic.twitter.com/lBao4Ylntw
— Estudiantes de La Plata (@EdelpOficial) March 7, 2022
Old Boys show El Decano how it’s done
Newell’s made it two wins from two with an impressive result against Atlético Tucumán at the Estadio Marcelo Bielsa. Juan Fernando Garro fired into the bottom corner on just the 2nd minute to put the home side ahead.
Nicolás Castro doubled their lead just before half-time with a great finish from a tight angle. In the second half Francisco Agustín González’s pinpoint cross was fired in by a header from Ramiro Sordo. The 4-0 rout was then completed as Nazareno Manuel Fúnez went one-on-one with Tomás Marchiori and slotted the ball past the keeper.
It’s up to you… 😳
💥 @NicoCastro36pic.twitter.com/g8QZYhDSCC
— Newell’s Old Boys (@NewellsEnglish) March 7, 2022
An impressive victory for La Lepra who had less possession with 44% and less shots 13 to El Decano’s 15. But Newell’s made the difference in scoring 4 from their 7 shots on target when nothing came from Tucumán’s 6 shots on target.
