This article courtesy of GOLAZO ARGENTINO

So the Torneo Final has come to an end – Newell’s have been crowned deserved champions and we now know the 3 teams that will be descending to the depths of the Nacional B. Prior to the final weekend, all of these questions were answered except the identity of the third team to join Union and Independiente. Argentinos Juniors beat, the already crowned, Newell’s Old Boys and although Atletico Rafaela lost to Velez it mattered not, as San Martin’s fight finally ended and they slumped to a 3-1 defeat to River Plate. Besides this being the only matter of any real importance decided on the final day there were still plenty of goals and some talking points….

RACING 3 – 0 UNION

Having waited all the season for back to back wins Racing have finished the Torneo Final strongly and put together three. Last night’s victory over, already relegated, Union was a resounding 3-0 win and all three goals were splendid. Luciano Vietto gave Racing the lead from the penalty spot. Having scored and celebrated his initial effort, the young striker was forced to retake the spotkick and opted for the cheekiest of chips down the middle. Diego Villar doubled the lead in the second half with a wonderful strike on the volley before Ricardo Centurion added the third in stoppage time, in what may turn out to be his last game for the club.

 

ESTUDIANTES 1 -1 BELGRANO

Belgrano made sure of their qualification for the Copa Sudamericana with a 1-1 draw against Estudiantes to conclude a season to forget for the side from La Plata. Lucas Melano’s early opener was cancelled out by Guido Carrillo’s fine header moments into the second half.

 

TIGRE 2 – 3 QUILMES

Quilmes finished their campaign by edging a 5-goal-thriller in Victoria against Tigre. Omar de Felippe announced his departure as Quilmes manager after the game but will have been pleased with his sides performance. Falling behing early to Alejandro Donatti’s towering header, Quilmes quickly struck back with 2 fine finishes from Sebastian Romero and Martin Cauteruccio. Gaston Diaz’s well placed strike from the edge of the box ensured Tigre went in level but Miguel Caneo’s early second half goal was enough to take the 3 points.

COLON 1 – 1 INDEPENDIENTE

A sad day for Independiente as their fans watched their side draw 1-1 in Santa Fe against Colon, in their final game in the top flight. El Rojo led after Lucas Mugni’s, clumsy own goal but were pegged back when the league’s joint top scorer, Emmanuel Gigliotti headed the equaliser. Gigliotti’s impressive performances have led to him being linked with a switch to Boca in the close season leaving Colon with a possible task on their hands to replace his goals.

 

NEWELL’S OLD BOYS 0 – 1 ARGENTINOS JUNIORS

Argentinos Juniors travelled to Rosario to play the newly crowned champions,Newell’s Old Boys and came away with a 1-0 win courtesy of Pablo Hernandez’s late header.

RIVER PLATE 3 – 1 SAN MARTIN

River Plate finished their own campaign strongly to grab second spot and condemn San Martin to relegation. Leonel Vangioni smashed in the opener and Carlos Sanchez added the second after just 24 minutes despite appearing offside when he pounced on the knockdown from a River corner. San Martin gave themselves a life line with a goal just before half time through Gaston Caprari but it wasn’t to be. An ill tempered second half saw Damian Ledesma sent off for San Martin and after Juan Manuel Iturbe scored a late third all hell broke loose. Iturbe was at the centre of the this as his reaction to a challenge and then gesturing to the crowd prompted an irate reaction from virtually all the San Martin players.

 

VELEZ SARSFIELD 2 – 1 ATLETICO RAFAELA

Atletico Rafaela lost but survive relegation for another year thanks to San Martin’s defeat. Two goals from young centre forward, Ezequiel Rescaldani were enough to see off Rafaela despite Eduardo Dominguez’s fine header drawing them level.

 

ARSENAL 4 – 0 ALL BOYS

Arsenal closed their Torneo Final in comprehensive fashion although they were given a helping hand by the awarding of a dubious penalty in the 2nd minute. Jorge Ortiz converted it and later Julio Furch doubled the lead. The goal of the weekend came after 58 minutes when Carlos Carbonero let loose a rocket of a right foot into the top corner with the goalkeeper rooted. Martin Rolle capped off the rout when he volleyed in from close range after a fast break. There was also a send off for young centre back, Lisandro Lopez who was subbed late on to a standing ovation. The youngster, who Golazo tipped for big things earlier, is supposedly off to Benfica.

 

SAN LORENZO 2 – 2 LANUS

The form side in the Primera, San Lorenzo ended with an entertaining draw against Lanus. Falling two behind from a penalty scored by Silvio Romero and then a scrappy Ismael Blanco effort, San Lorenzo came back strongly. Goals from Ignacio Piatti and Angel Correa brought them back level and leaves San Lorenzo in a good position for the forthcoming Torneo Inicial.

 

GODOY CRUZ 1 – 1 BOCA JUNIORS

Boca got the point that was needed to get them off the foot of the table but the fact remains that this has been a bitter disappointment. Despite leading through Lucas Viatri, Godoy Cruz were able to level with a penalty in first half stoppage time. Chique Pirez was adjudged to have handled the ball and Gonzalo Castellani confidently dispatched the spot kick.

 

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