Atlético Tucumán thrash Independiente 4-0 on Mele debut | OneFootball

With goals from Brondo, Nicola, and a brace from Laméndola, the “Dean” beat the “Red,” who wasted a penalty after a handball by Ferreira.

At the Marcelo Bielsa Colossus, Independiente and Atlético Tucumán kicked off the Copa Argentina 2026 Round of 16 in a thrilling winner-takes-all showdown.

Around the half-hour mark, the VAR called Facundo Tello over to review a handball inside the box. After watching the play for several minutes, the referee awarded the penalty. Santiago Montiel took the spot kick for Independiente, but the post denied him the goal. Just seconds later, Rojo suffered another heavy blow on a lethal counterattack, which Nicolás Laméndola finished perfectly to make it 1-0 for Atlético Tucumán.

Independiente came out asleep for the second half and Atlético Tucumán showed no mercy. Laméndola, who had scored the opener, won the ball back and set up Manuel Brondo, who tapped it in under the goal to extend the Dean’s lead just four minutes in. Only five minutes later, Rojo once again looked shaky at the back and Franco Nicola scored the third.

With 20 minutes left, Laméndola put it to bed and scored the fourth against an Independiente side that was mentally drained. Quinteros sent the youngsters on late in the match, and former Unión player Santiago Mele made his debut in a heavy defeat.

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