Belgrano get justice after Falcón Pérez blunder, win in Rosario | OneFootball

El Canalla started ahead with a penalty goal from Di María, but the Pirata snatched the win at the end thanks to an own goal by Mallo and a stunning strike from Gutiérrez. It was 2-1 for the team from Córdoba at the Gigante de Arroyito. Three of the four new signings for the auriazules played.

In the debut of coach Jorge Almirón, Rosario Central got off on the wrong foot in the 2026 Apertura Tournament: they lost 2-1 to Belgrano de Córdoba this Saturday night at the Gigante de Arroyito.

El Canalla was left with a bitter taste because of how the match unfolded: they started ahead with a penalty from Di María and, when it seemed like they had it secured, the Pirata equalized with an own goal from Mallo and won it with a rocket from the young Gutiérrez.

Almirón’s first Central took the field with a 3-4-3 (or 5-2-3) formation, with Di María as the right winger, Campaz on the left, and two wing-backs —Enzo Giménez and Sández— playing wide to make the team stretch and attack down the flanks. The midfield was shared by Pizarro and Ibarra. The Pirata from Córdoba tried to fight for possession in the opening stages, but El Canalla took control of the ball. However, at least at the start, they lacked clarity in turning that possession into real danger for the opposing goal.

Belgrano, on the other hand, was quick to take advantage of some mistakes by El Canalla, and on a couple of occasions managed to shoot at Ledesma’s goal, who responded well. The clearest chance was a shot from Nicolás Fernández at the edge of the box.

But Central pushed down the left with Campaz and got their reward, not without controversy, right at the end of the first half: Angelito was fouled in the box, the referee awarded a penalty after consulting VAR, and Fideo himself, with a left-footed shot that fooled the keeper, made it 1-0 in Arroyito. Although the decision was disputed by Belgrano.

Read more: VIDEO DI MARÍA DID IT AGAIN, felt the contact in the box, DOVE, Falcón Pérez bought it and it was IN

Central came out determined to control the game in the second half to try to finish it off and suffer as little as possible. The best of the team was still coming down the left with Campaz’s speed and dribbling. But the closest to extending the lead was Enzo Giménez, with a header that crashed against the crossbar, although it seemed offside.

Even so, Belgrano managed to put Almirón’s team in trouble. Before the Paraguayan’s header, Uvita Fernández missed an almost certain goal, shooting wide after a surgical pass from Zelarrayán. Shortly after, Rigoni tried from outside the box and the ball bounced just before reaching the Canalla keeper, who managed to cushion the impact with his body and arms to clear the danger.

Little by little, the team from Córdoba started to tilt the field in their favor. With Zelarrayán having a very good night, Central had to fall back and the coach switched from three central defenders to four at the back (Coronel came in and Soto went out). The Pirata had some chances to equalize, although they weren’t sharp in the final third. For El Canalla, every counterattack was a chance to seal the game.

The Rosario side failed to capitalize on their chances and paid dearly, as the Pirata turned it around in a flash. First, Mallo ended up scoring an own goal after a scrappy play in the six-yard box. And right after, the young Lautaro Gutiérrez unleashed a tremendous right-footed rocket that left Ledesma rooted to the spot. El Canalla went from 1-0 to 1-2 in the blink of an eye.

And there was no time for more in Rosario. Central, surprisingly, was left empty-handed because they couldn’t finish off or hold off Belgrano, who raised their level a lot in the second half.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.