Velez vs. Argentinos Juniors, for the LPF Cup: summary, result and goals

Fortín, which suffered the early expulsion of Braian Romero, will define the title in Santiago del Estero against the winner of the key between Boca and Estudiantes, after 0-0 at the Estadio Único de San Nicolás.

Vélez, who played with one less due to the early expulsion of Braian Romero, beat Argentinos Juniors 4-2 on penalties at the Estadio Único de San Nicolás and is the first finalist of the 2024 Professional League Cup, after drawing 0-0 in the 90 minutes. In this way, Fortín will define the title in Santiago del Estero against the winner of the match between Boca and Estudiantes.

The red card to Romero conditioned the match from the 13th minute, when the first approaches in favor of the Bicho had barely passed. A tremendous strike by the striker against Nicolás Oroz required the intervention of the VAR, which this Sunday was set up in the stadium itself and not in Ezeiza, unlike the rest of the matches, to reverse the initial yellow from referee Facundo Tello.

The sunny afternoon winked at Argentinos Juniors, but in the end the psychological effect ended up working against them. And he gave way to the rival, he was very imprecise and did not find solutions to the good things he had done in the first 10 minutes. He also suffered Francisco Pizzini on the right wing, from where Vélez’s clearest plays came.

First at the feet of Thiago Fernández and then at those of Pizzini, although neither could match the great reflexes of the experienced Diego Rodríguez, who even excelled with double saves between the three sticks.

The beginning of the second half, meanwhile, had Argentinos Juniors playing with greater desperation, sometimes abusing the balls, while Vélez handled it tactically, especially due to defensive details. This time Pablo Guede’s team had the best chances through José Herrera and Santiago Montiel. And the one who responded enormously was Tomás Marchiori.

The doubt remained as to whether there was a penalty that was not taken – nor alerted by the VAR – for Argentinos Juniors after a key that Valentín Gómez applied to Luciano Gondou’s neck in an aerial attack. A play that would have sparked controversy because Lenny Lobato almost scored in the next one. There was no time for much more and the key went to penalties.

Already in the definition, Rodríguez saved Juan Méndez, Leonardo Heredia missed, Marchiori stopped Gondou’s shot and Lobato converted the 4-2 that put Vélez in a new Argentine soccer final.