From the hubbub to the anger. From applause to rage. Instituto lost one of those incredible games in the last minutes. An encounter that was very close to being in his pocket.
El Albirrojo fell 2 to 1 against Argentinos on matchday 12 of the League Cup because they did not know how to withstand the hierarchy of a leading rival at the end of the game.
They won it with a goal from Facundo Suárez just beginning the second half (three minutes in).
But the visit took it away from him upon closing with so many Maximiliano Romero, at 36, and José Herrera, at 50.
Now, Instituto seems to have been quite far from the classification against a rival that left Alta Córdoba more ahead than ever and showing its firepower.
La Gloria was minutes away from achieving three points, they were worth much more than that. It was a giant push to face the rest of the tournament.
Now he has three falls at a hot moment in the championship.
Instituto remained at 17 points and is seventh, while Argentinos now has 24 points and is the leader of Zone A.
After this meeting, those technically led by Diego Dabove must travel to Rafaela where on Wednesday, from 7 p.m., they will face Talleres de Remedios Escalada for the 32nd finals.
Later, on the 13th, they will visit Barracas Central on Sunday, April 7, from 4 p.m. They will close the championship, on the 14th, hosting River.
What happened in the match between Instituto and Argentinos Juniors
Instituto went out to play against Argentinos with the need to change its face after the last two defeats and it showed.
From the outset, Diego Dabove’s team had an offensive stance, against a rival of hierarchy and importance.
The absence of Damián Puebla forced the coach to change plans. Ignacio Russo accompanied Facundo Suárez on offense and, in addition, Jonás Acevedo returned to the starting lineup after his injury.
All of this gave impetus to the Glory that sought the three points against its people.
Argentines little by little began to make contact with the ball and play, as Guede’s team always does.
Of course, they did not have the forward Luciano Gondou, who was with the Under 23 team. And the scorer Maxi Romero started on the bench. Although with Verón’s trident, Oroz and Battallini were a permanent threat.
This is how the first 20 minutes of a meeting that was going back and forth went.
Around 25, the visit had a couple of more than clear opportunities. The best, Battallini was one-on-one with Roffo after a mistake by Brizuela. But the local goalkeeper won the duel.
In any case, those from Paternal were growing and were already a concern for an Institute that could no longer have the ball or generate danger.
Dabove had to get involved in the team and left back Lucas Rodríguez came out to bring in Jonathan Bay. Right in that sector, Albirrojo was having a very bad time.
The match was extremely complex for those from Alta Córdoba. Although it was what was expected in the previous when receiving a top team.
Only at 39, the local team got closer again with a play that started in Alarcón so that Suárez later assisted Russo. “Nacho” defined him just off the mark when goalkeeper Rodríguez blocked him. It was a golden chance.
The first half left with a feeling that the second half would be even tougher than those first 45 minutes where Instituto had a tough time against one of the best rivals seen this year in Alta Córdoba. But the 0-0 left everything open.
In the complement the match was born the same but Instituto managed to accommodate the body better.
And after 4 minutes, after a great cross from Bay, Suárez found himself very alone in the area to head his header and sent it into the back of the net.
He was alone, and the linesman raised the flag. But then the VAR rectified it and there was celebration. La Gloria won 1 to 0 in a very cool match that still had a lot left to play.
La Gloria understood that it was necessary to bite and put a lot of attitude to counter a rival with so many weapons. And so, with the knife between her teeth, she played her complement.
At 9, Russo had another chance to expand but his shot from the crescent bounced off a defender and into the corner.
From that action, once again the former Rosario Central would be on the verge of scoring with a Chilean half that they saved on the line.
El Albirrojo seemed better off for what remained, with more confidence and security.
The final 15 minutes were already a lot of friction and endurance, while people ate what was left of their nails in every corner of the Monumental.
And with eight minutes left, Maxi Romero received a low cross inside the area and scored very well against Roffo.
All the effort that Instituto had made up to that point vanished because once again the game was tied.
Clearly the point was of no use to Dabove’s team and they went to seek victory again in the final minutes.
Silvio Romero and Santiago Rodriguez entered in a clear sign that the only thing that really mattered was winning. But it seemed too late.
The worst was yet to come. Already in injury time, the visitor found a ball near the area and demonstrated their hierarchy.
It was Herrera who hit a left foot shot to make it 2-1 that left everyone with incredible anger.
Instituto lost a very big victory in just a few minutes.
Now the classification seems further away than ever.
