Rosario Central beat Sarmiento 2-1 on Saturday as Ajax loanee Gastón Ávila scored twice, including a 95th-minute winner. They currently top Group B of the Torneo Clausura with 31 points.
How the match unfolded
Manuel García put Sarmiento ahead five minutes in. Ávila levelled for Rosario Central in the 29th minute after good work from Enzo Copetti, and the sides went in at half-time at 1-1.
Injury and red cards
Ángel Di María went off injured in the 59th minute. Eight minutes later, Renzo Orihuela was sent off for a foul on Copetti, leaving Sarmiento with ten men. Late on, Santiago Salle was initially shown a yellow card for a challenge on Ávila, and the referee changed it to red after VAR intervention.
Winner in added time
Rosario Central pushed for a winner against nine men. Ávila scored the winner in the fifth minute of added time after a pass from Ignacio Ovando.
Ávila's season and Ajax link
Ávila is on loan from Ajax and now has seven goals in 27 matches. In the summer of 2023, Ajax paid Royal Antwerp €12.5 million for Ávila, with bonuses potentially taking the fee to €14.5 million. He played eight official matches for Ajax. Rosario Central have an option to buy Ávila, while his Ajax contract runs until mid-2028. Under coach Jorge Almirón, Rosario Central have won four of their last five matches and drawn one.
