With a penalty converted by Maxi Moralez in the extra time, Velez beat 2-1 Atletico from Tucuman. Roly Zarate took the lead for Ricardo Gareca’s team and Javier Paez had equalized for the hosts.
Following the game the players and Atletico’s coaching staff strongly complained to the referee, Lunati, who had booked Paez for the foul on Zarate.
Despite not having Waldo Ponce, Sebastián Domínguez, Nicolás Otamendi, Emiliano Papa, Leandro Somoza, Fabian Cubero, Jonatan Cristaldo and Rodrigo Lopez (besides the injured Victor Zapata), Velez was able to take the lead in the 27 minute after a centre kick from Caruso on to the second goalpost that was received by Roly Zarate.
The match was entertaining. Erroz crashed a shot against the crossbar and Calandria missed a header in the six-yard box that caught Montoya.
Velez brings three gold points, perhaps undeservedly, after a controversial penalty in the second minute of the extra time. The referee had to be watched over after the verbal abused hurled at him by the Tucuman’s coach, Hector Rivoira.
Match Summaries
Stadium: Estadio Monumental “José Fierro
Referee: Pablo Lunati.
Atletico Tucuman: Ischuk Lucas, Javier Paez, Matías Villavicencio and Raul Saavedra, Cesar Montiglio, Martin Barn, Diego Erroz, David Drocco and Sebastian Longo, Pablo Calandria and Luis Rodriguez. DT, Hector Rivoira.
Velez Sarsfield: Montoya Germain, Gastón Díaz, Fernando Tobio, Marco Torsiglieri and Pablo Lima Nicolás Cabrera, Franco Razzotti and Alexander Campbell, John Martínez, Leandro Caruso and Rolando Zarate. Coach: Ricardo Gareca.
Goals: PT 27 ‘Rolando Zarate (VS), 39′ Javier Paez (AT). ST: 48 ‘Maximiliano Moralez (VS), from a penalty.
Changes: PT 25 ‘Maximiliano Moralez by Martinez (VS) ST: 0′ Hector Desvaux by Drocco (AT), 15 ‘Fabio Escobar by Calandria (AT), 22′ Emiliano Papa by P. Lima (VS), 27 ‘Matias Escobar Erroz (AT), 34′ Leonardo Piris by Caruso (VS).
