Vélez could not beat Argentinos in a controversial duel and has not yet confirmed his permanence

Velez tied 1 to 1 with Argentines Juniors, as visitors, within the framework of Date 13 of Zone A of the League Cup 2023 and will have to wait for a defeat by Colón de Santa Fe on this same day to ensure their permanence.

As in the two previous “Fortín” games, Claudio Aquino scored a great goal from a free kick to put the visitor ahead (27m.PT), and Luciano Gondou, the tournament’s top scorer (9), scored with a header (34m.ST ) a tie that was of no use to either of them.

Vélez has 46 points in the general table and has still not been able to ensure permanence in the absence of a date for the end of the regular phase, while at the same time it is also fighting to be among the top four in the area, something it achieved with the partial victory.

The “Bicho”, meanwhile, has 8 games without a win, was in a bad position in the fight to enter the Copa Sudamericana and was resisted by his people, both the players and coach Pablo Guede.

All of Vélez finished the match with angry protests towards referee Pablo Echavarría for an unsanctioned penalty after a handball by Javier Cabrera in the area. The VAR, led by Nazareno Arasa, checked the action that occurred in stoppage time and enabled the game to continue.

The match had great vertigo, with two loose teams that each aimed in their own way, towards the opponent’s goal and with many emotions.

In his first arrival, Vélez had the goal with a shot on the run and from outside the area by Leonardo Jara that burst Federico Lanzillota’s right post.

The immediate response of the “Bicho” was also full of danger from a half turn by Luciano Gondou that the path towards the goal detoured into Lautaro Gianetti to miss just wide.

But Vélez, as happened in his two previous games, counted on the superb and exquisite strike of Claudio Aquino to open the result in the 27th minute with a right foot, from a left-handed position, that stopped the Bicho goalkeeper and went well up. .

With the advantage in their favor and as they have usually shown, the tactical decision of Sebastián Méndez’s team was to go back a few meters, overcome the possible clear exit of Fernando Redondo, close the wings and even give up possession of the ball.

Of course, this speculative attitude did not give him the expected result and “Bicho”, only pushing and without room for lucidity, tied it with a header and after a long ball from the scorer Luciano Gondou.

On the next date, the 14th and last of the qualifying phase, which will only be played in two weeks, Vélez will receive Colón at the José Amalfitani stadium and Argentinos Juniors will visit Barracas Central at the Tomás Ducó Stadium in Huracán.