Vélez was obliged to win if he wanted to regain the leadership of Zone A. Estudiantes’ 2-1 victory over Unión on the hour mark had relegated El Fortín to second place. And, it is known, in addition all the points also add up to the annual table, which from the Cup delivered to Rosario Central at the beginning of 2025, offers another title apart from the one that is in dispute now with the Apertura 2026, which will have three dates left before the playoffs begin. In that sense, the 1-0 victory against Central Córdoba in Santiago del Estero achieved the objective but turned out to be a false result: the local team deserved to win, that would have been more logical taking into account the performances of both teams. But between the flaws in the definition and the saves by Aguerre, he had to settle for the minimum difference.
For Vélez it was also a test of character after the unusual defeat suffered against Gimnasia de Mendoza as a visitor on the last date, and after winning 2-0. The 3-2 defeat and on top of that with a goal against Mammana had hit a group that has maintained a good level since the game but that – it became clear – is not exempt from paying for its mistakes. It is true that they had then beaten Deportivo Armenio 4-1 in the Argentine Cup, but that was an expected result taking into account the difference in divisions (and hierarchies).
The start of the match was as expected, with Vélez taking charge of possession of the ball and the leading role. Lucas Pusineri’s team waiting in their field and trying to counterattack.
Guillermo Barros Schelotto usually has more than eleven starters: This Monday the double 5 was composed of Tobías Andrada (one of the revelations) and Rodrigo Aliendro; ahead of them are Dilan Godoy, Diego Valdes and Matías Pellegrini; and Florián Monzón, who has been established as a center forward for several games. But Manuel Lanzini, Claudio Baeza and Braian Romero were also on the bench. Even recovered Lucas Robertone, who was on the bench after overcoming a strain and then joined. The series of matches gives rise to rotation without harming the structure. On the contrary: they all strengthen each other.
After 10 minutes, Joaquín García scored 1-0 with a typical Vélez play: after a move by Andrada in the central zone, he continued with short touches and turns and almost everyone intervened: Godoy, Pellegrini and after a movement from left to right, the right back scored a great goal with a low and crossed shot.
Four later Fernando Martínez was reprimanded for an infringement on Valdes. In case something was missing, the goal gave greater ease to those led by the Twins.
Central Córdoba came out to play with two forwards, Ezequiel Naya and Michael Santos. And their main avenue of offensive search, as a link with them, was Diego Barrera. The number 7 sent a couple of dangerous crosses from the left and gave the local centre-backs work, they rejected the balls into the corner. But everything costs too much for a team that lost weight in the last transfer market.
Valdes missed the second with the goal open after an assist from Pellegrini but the 10th had arrived badly with his left foot.
Central Córdoba continued to turn to the centers. From a free kick in which Magallán was cautioned, came Matías Vera’s cross and Mansilla’s subsequent header that demanded goalkeeper Montero, who responded very well. But line 1 gained an advanced position.
At 32, after a chase from Vera Yuri Casermeiro missed the tie in an incredible way, with a left foot and a lunge entering through the far post: the ball hit the outside of the net, but on the court – for a moment – everyone saw a goal. And it went from arch to arch: because in the next action, Alan Aguerre was left with a great ball and a double saveafter the center from full-back García from the right: first he responded to a header from Monzón and then grabbed the rebound that Monzón himself had hit with his right: the goalkeeper controlled it on the line of his fence.
But at the end of the first half, in a great counterattack by Vélez, Godoy missed a rarely seen goal: After opening the ball to Valdes, he went to the penalty spot and scored with his left foot against the defeated goalkeeper, but he hit him so badly that the ball was crossed and bitten, very wide.
In the second half Central Córdoba came out better from territorial control, but the first three risky chances were from Vélez, with three shots from Andrada: the first went near the goalkeeper’s left post; The second was contained by Aguerre and the third, the most dangerous, was deflected by the goalkeeper into a corner kick.
Vélez deserved the second: Monzón had the fourth situation with a header that was saved on the line of his goal by Santos. And Aguerre once again avoided another one-on-one against the center forward. The next was with a header from Magallán after a center from Robertone. Aguerre stood out by hitting Pellegrini with his left foot and again Andrada surprised with an offensive advance and a shot that went just over the crossbar.
Vélez responded to that show of character that the fans asked of him and only won by the slightest difference due to imprecise definitions and Aguerre’s saves. The fans still applauded everyone, deservedly, as if Fortín had scored.
