There was actually some football taking place on Saturday evening, but it seemed somewhat churlish to report it right away when the news of Emanuel Alvarez’s death clearly deserved the attention. It overshadowed an entertaining evening, with Independiente finding form again and Banfield coming back amazingly in the closing minutes against Tigre. There’s also been the first managerial casualty of the year.
After a disappointing first half against Gimnasia, Independiente came to life after the break and three goals in the first eleven minutes of the second period, from Daniel Montenegro, Matías De Gregorio and Germán Denis proved too much for Gimnasia, even though Matías Escobar pulled one back just minutes after Denis had made it three.
Banfield were also losing 3-1, with just five minutes to go at home to Tigre, before a great fightback thanks to goals from Darío Cvitanich and man-of-the-match Luciano Civelli. It was just reward for a brave tactical switch from Banfield manager Juan Manuel Llop, who sacrificed a defender (Ariel Broggi) for a forward (Jerónimo Barrales) with just under 15 minutes left, and kept faith in his changes even after Tigre scored to make it 3-1 just minutes later.
Colón manager Leonardo Astrada, meanwhile, has stood down after his side lost 1-0 at home to a Gabriel Hauche goal for Argentinos Juniors. Following the defeat, which leaves Colón still mired in the relegation struggle and looking increasingly less likely to get out of it, Astrada met some of the more senior players and club president Germán Lerche to inform them of his resignation.
‘The responsibility is all mine,’ Astrada told the press an hour later. ‘The group of players are excellent and I have full confidence that they’re going to turn round this situation.’ They’ll have a tough job; their next match is against Boca, in La Bombonera.
Hasta El Gol Siempre 