The afternoon of Sunday, May 5, 2024 in Santiago del Estero could be one of those that marks a before and after in the career of Matías Mansilla, who was once again the hero in the penalty series, to take to LP Students to the consecration of the League Cup 2024 against Velez.
It is not about underestimating the 28-year-old goalkeeper born in Juríes, Santiago del Estero, who “it was done” in promotion football, with its beginnings in MidlandEdit (2015-2020). Then with a step by Deportivo Morón (2020-2021), who played in the country’s Third Division, where he gained continuity and became a figure.
The first big leap in his career was when he arrived on loan to Patronage, where he played for the first time in the top category and won the first title of his career in the 2022 Argentine Cup, but with little participation: barely one game in the entire campaign. He had displaced it Facundo Altamirano, current San Lorenzo fencekeeper.
With the descent of the Patron, although playing the CONMEBOL Libertadores It might have been tempting, Mansilla chose to go to Central Córdoba from Santiago del Estero and continue in First. On the Railway he knew how to earn his place, something that he was not assured of when he arrived. He was a starter in the entire League Cup 2023 and, even, this began there on the initial date of 2024, when it appeared Estudiantes, who had to urgently go out to find a replacement for Mariano Andújar, who retired at the end of last season.
The La Plata club opted for this low-profile Santiago goalkeeper without much experience in the First Division: he bought 90 percent of the pass with a contract until December 2026. Eduardo Domínguez trusted him from the start and gave him ownership in all of this year’s commitments.
But the truth is that when the time came for penalties against Boca, who had been better in the 1-1 draw in the League Cup quarterfinalseverything was in favor of Xeneize with Romero in goal and not only because of Chiquito’s background, but also because of Mansilla himself.
Until then, the man from Santiago recorded only 20 percent effectiveness in shots from 12 steps, with only five saves out of 25 that had been made (2 deflected and 18 converted). The only time he had been in a defining series, he was defeated and could not prevent a goal: went with Central Córdoba versus Independiente, for 16ths. final of the Argentine Cup 2023.
That is why, despite his confidence, plus the help of the coaching staff that He prepared the “machete” with the Boca kickers, to stop the shots at Edinson Cavani and Nicolás Figalwas a pleasant surprise for Estudiantes, who qualified for the final that this May 5, 2024, they beat Vélez Sarsfield again with Mansilla as a figure in the 12-step shootout.
The archer of Students of La Plata suffered a goal Alejo Sarco in the game, but again it was key to winning the League Cup 2024. He blocked three penalties in the shootout that ended 4-3 and thus marked the goalkeeper’s first title as an established starter in professional football.
Mansilla, after the penalty shootout with which he became champion
“Everything happened, right here in Santiago. Today to be living is a dream”
“We play as equals on all fields. This team has a great group that deserves it as much as the people who made the effort to get here”
“People said that ‘he’s Central Córdoba’s goalkeeper’, but I work day by day. I worked a lot to focus and leave that behind, today it’s enjoyable”
“I had to guess some penalties and take a chance. But the best thing is to enjoy after all the work. I dedicate it to my family and all the people at Estudiantes”
