Estudiantes score and wait for River or Boca in the semi-finals of the League Cup

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Will River Plate or Boca Juniors pass? While the world of football is throbbing for the superclásico to be played this Sunday in Córdoba, Estudiantes de La Plata secured the right to face “Millonario” or “Xeneize” in the semi-finals of the Argentine League Cup.

“Pincha” beat Barracas Central 3-0 on Saturday to get into the top four of the competition.

The remaining semifinal will be animated by Argentinos Juniors, who eliminated Defensa y Justicia 3-2 on penalties after drawing 1-1, and Vélez Sarsfield, who came back to defeat Godoy Cruz 2-1.

At the Ciudad de Vicente López stadium, Estudiantes was superior from start to finish to Barracas Central, the modest club that catapulted Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia to the presidency of the Argentine Football Association (AFA).

Eduardo Domínguez’s team took the lead with a “locker room goal” in the 2nd minute by Guido Carrillo, who increased in the 62nd. The victory was sealed by substitute Javier Correa, in the 86th.

“We controlled the match, the result was fair. We started the year in a very good way, then we had a downturn and we knew how to recover in time,” said Carrillo, who has scored four goals in Estudiantes’ last five games in the tournament.

Earlier in the day, Banfield’s Florencio Sola stadium was the scene of a dramatic penalty shootout whose hero was Argentinos goalkeeper Diego “Ruso” Rodríguez, who saved two shots and converted the decisive one.

Defense had been in advantage almost the entire match, after the goal by Paraguayan Rodrigo Bogarín, at 11. Even the “Halcón” forward was about to settle the dispute, but “Ruso” Rodríguez prevented it with a great intervention.

And at 85, a shot from outside the area by Uruguayan Alan Rodríguez that deflected off Santiago Ramos Mingo rescued the “Bicho”, forcing the definition from eleven meters.

It was an unusual series. Of the 12 shots, seven were unsuccessful, with three on the crossbar, one shot outside, another contained by the Defense goalkeeper, the Uruguayan Cristopher Fiermarín, plus the two frustrated by “Russian” Rodríguez, a specialist when it comes to saving and also to convert penalties.

“We tied in an agonizing way, but we deserved to do it much sooner. Afterwards, the penalties became long… It’s a joy, a beautiful relief,” declared the goalkeeper and captain of Argentinos Juniors, who will now try to get into the final at the expense of an epic Vélez.

In Villa Mercedes (San Luis), “Fortín” started losing but turned it around thanks to the great night of its forward Braian Romero, author of a double, and despite playing most of the complement with ten due to the expulsion of Elías Gómez (in injury time Godoy Cruz’s goalkeeper, Franco Petroli, also saw red).

“Tomba”, the best team in the regular phase, took the lead with a goal from Facundo Altamira. Gustavo Quinteros’ team tied it very soon with an accurate definition from Romero, a former River player.

Already in the complement, and with numerical superiority, Godoy Cruz cornered Vélez. However, a furious counterattack ended with a pass into the net by Romero to seal the qualification to the semis for a team that had just advanced to the quarterfinals.

“We turned the page for the club in a great way,” Romero pointed out in relation to the moment Vélez experienced last season, when he was on the verge of relegation.

On Sunday afternoon, River, winner of Zone A, and Boca, fourth in Zone B, will meet at the Mario Alberto Kempes stadium, the first clash with fans of both clubs in the stands since the final in Madrid of the 2018 Copa Libertadores.

The League Cup playoffs are settled in a single match on a neutral court.