The second day of the 2022 edition of the Professional League Cup of Argentine soccer closed this Thursday with the first victories of Independiente, Boca and River, although San Lorenzo could not raise its head and Racing ended up drawing again.
With a disputed arbitration by Néstor Pitana, Racing equalized as a visitor 2-2 against Defense and Justice after generating a penalty that allowed the striker Edwin Cardona open the marker and your partner, Gabriel Hauche, get ahead during the first 39 minutes of the match. However, the locals woke up quickly and Michael Merentiel beside Francis Pizzini They put the match on a draw, depriving the ‘Academy’ of the possibility of adding their first win.
San Lorenzo fell 1-0 in their visit to Gimnasia y Esgrima de la Plata. The center forward of ‘Lobo’, Cristian Tarragona, embittered ‘Ciclón’, who for the second consecutive time did not achieve the three points necessary to move up in their area. In addition, he had to play with one less due to the accumulation of yellow cards by Colombian Yeison Gordillo.
For its part, Sebastián Battaglia’s Boca Juniors beat Aldosivi 1-2 on Wednesday in Mar del Plata with a brace from Colombian striker Sebastián Villa. While Independiente won an agonizing home match on Tuesday 1-0 against Arsenal with a goal from Tomás Pozzo 25 minutes from time. Although it was River Plate that made the difference this Wednesday, as they thrashed Patronato 4-1, with a hat-trick by Julián Álvarez that catapulted him to the top of the scorers’ standings. This spectacle of goals was finalized by the Colombian Juan Fernando Quintero, who returned to the institution this season, converting a penalty for a goal.
The surprise
The team that left a great impression on this second date was Colón, who defeated Godoy Cruz 3-1 despite not having the ball for most of the match. Those led by the former technical director of Independiente, Julio César Falcioni, took advantage of their only three shots on goal. After Facundo Farías converted the first goal, the creativity of Luis Miguel ‘Pulga’ Rodríguez arrived who, seeing no player at the near post, hit a corner kick with three fingers that bounced off the goalkeeper, scoring an Olympic goal for the ‘Sabalero’. The third goal came with a penalty from ‘Pulga’, while Martín Ojeda converted a solitary goal, also from a penalty, for Godoy Cruz.
Another one that surprised Platense who closed the day with a draw 2-2 against Atlético de Tucumána brace by Iván Gómez turned ‘Squid’ into an escort two points behind the leader, Argentinos Juniors who have six points, in Group A. Finally, Sarmiento also equalized playing at home 2-2 against Banfield. Talleres and Unión signed tables without goals.
The league
The Professional League Cup has 28 teams divided into two zones. At the moment, Group B is led by Estudiantes de la Plata with six points, closely followed by Central Córdoba with four. After a match against each rival and an ‘interzonal classic’, the best four from each group will qualify for the quarterfinals, which will play a first leg match with the best placed team from the previous phase. The final will be on neutral ground.
