Another promotion celebration, and a debut double for Sava

Following San Martín de Tucumán’s winning start to their first season back in Primera A last night, it was the turn of Godoy Cruz to cause a shock, and not only did they win, they did so away from home against one of the more impressive teams of the last few years. Two goals from Colombian Jairo Castillo settled the match. In Rosario, meanwhile, there was a frantic five-goal thriller between Central and Estudiantes, with the hosts eventually winning by the odd goal. After the match Estudiantes’ fans were demonstratively upset, and 40 of them were arrested. And a little earlier in the day, Racing cult figure Facundo Sava had a great debut for Arsenal de Sarandí, scoring twice as they won well.

It was a flying start for Godoy Cruz, who took the lead just five minutes in in El Sur, as former Vélez and Independiente striker Castillo, returning to Argentina, taking full advantage of a slip-up in the Banfield backline. Just three minutes later though, former Boca striker Nicolás Bertolo got the hosts back on level terms, and all seemed to be back on track. As Banfield started to attack more, though, they got caught out again, Castillo doubling his and his side’s tally in the 19th minute on the counter. In total, Godoy Cruz had three chances all game, and they scored two goals. If Banfield had been that efficient, they’d be feeling very different about things when they return to training.

Central, like the newly promoted sides, are after a good start to this campaign in order that they might relax a little and not have to sweat and look over their shoulders later in the season when the relegation battle hots up. That determination was epitomised by club legend Cristian ‘Kily’ González, who scored one and generally drove his team forward in a frantic match which saw the hosts two goals up in the opening ten minutes. Cristian Zelaya opened the scoring in the fifth minute, by which time he’d already seen one effort scrambled away, and defender Alexis Danelón doubled the lead in the ninth minute. Mauro Boselli, newly arrived from Boca, got one back for Estudiantes five minutes before the break, but it was Kily who effectively ended the match as a contest early in the second half, making it 3-1 to Central. Boselli scored another, chipping Central’s young goalkeeper Jorge Broun to keep the tension high, but in the end Central’s win was merited.

A little earlier, in a heated match El Viaducto, Facundo Sava scored twice for new side Arsenal as they beat Argentinos Juniors 3-0. Alejandro Gómez scored the other for El Arse. Sava’s opener came after only five minutes when he headed home a cross from Cristian Díaz and the early advantage allowed Arsenal to control the match. Gómez got the second after ten minutes and after 24 minutes it was all over, Sava getting his second. As the match drew to a close, Argentinos weren’t happy and took their frustrations out. Manager Néstor Gorosito was sent to the stands, the two Gabriels Hauche and Peñalba were both yellow carded, whilst Sergio Escudero was sent off. There was a different sort of trouble after the Central vs. Estudiantes game; security chief Santillana, was hit by a car registered to a member of Estudiantes’ barra brava. He’s understood to have been interred in a local hospital only as a precaution, and forty Estudiantes fans have been detained in Regional Jail 2 in the city according to news agency Diarios y Noticias.

In the day’s final game, Vélez hosted Independiente and provided the exact antithesis of the great match some had anticipated. It ended 0-0.