El Lobo from Mendoza and returned to the top category after 41 years. The definition had everything: disallowed goals, VAR interventions, a penalty in added time and a heart-stopping shootout with César Rigamonti as the hero.
On a night of rain, tension and nerves, Gymnastics and Fencing of Mendoza got promotion to First Division by beating on penalties Deportivo Madrynafter tying 1-1 in the 120 regulation minutes. The match, played at the Platense stadium, was a real roller coaster of emotions and controversies.
The Chubut team had taken the lead 32 minutes into the second half, when Luis Silbawith his head, connected a precise center of Nazareno Solis. The “Tank” was coming off an irregular season and had not scored in eight games, but appeared at the most important moment. Fate had a special wink in store for him: last year he had worn the Gimnasia shirt.
As the clock neared closing and Madryn savored the climb, a hand from Alejandro Gutiérrez Inside the area everything changed. The referee Nicolas Ramirez penalized, and Facundo Lencioni He transformed it into a goal with surgical coldness. At 1-1, the final went into extra time.
Controversies and penalties
The development of the match had rough passages and disputed decisions. In the first half, Gimnasia was canceled two goals per handone of Matias Muñoz and another of Nicholas Servettoboth confirmed after review with the video referee system (VAR). It was a rarity: the First National played the 612 previous matches without that tooland its debut in the final generated protests and confusion in the stands.
Already in extra time, no one wanted to resign themselves to the chance of penalties. With heavy legs and a wet field, the two teams continued searching. Diego Mondino He was close to giving victory to the Wolf with a header that Yair Bonnin He made a save, but the tie persisted.
In the penalty shootout, Rigamonti He dressed as a figure: he covered the finials of Federico Recalde and Nicholas Manawhile Diego Crego He crashed his shot into the crossbar. On the other side, Cingolani, Lencioni and Recalde They did not fail and sealed the final 3-0. As soon as the ball bounced off the crossbar, the fans invaded the field from the Ciudad de Vicente López stadium, although some with the sole intention of removing the players’ clothing, which is why security had to intervene.
“I am proud of this team”he said through tears Ariel Broggithe coach of the new champion. “We remain in the history of the club“he added Matias Muñozwhile Rigamontistill wearing gloves, recalled with a smile: “I told them that I was going to be the figure in the penalties”.
With this promotion, Gymnastics and Fencing adds to Godoy Cruz and Independent Rivadaviaand Mendoza could have three representatives in the top category, something that only happened in 1974.
Source: Ambito
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