Fernández and Véliz seal Rosario Central’s place in Copa Argentina opener | OneFootball

In a match marked by the effectiveness of their attackers, Rosario Central convincingly defeated Sportivo Belgrano de San Francisco 2-0. The match, part of the Round of 64 of the 2026 Copa Argentina, was played this Wednesday at the Estadio 15 de Abril and was practically decided during the first half, allowing the Arroyito team to advance to the next round.

The team led by Jorge Almirón struck early. Just five minutes into the game, Enzo Giménez sent a precise cross from the right side that found Julián Fernández; the winger made no mistake and, with a subtle touch with the outside of his foot, scored the opening 1-0. The lead gave the "Canalla" peace of mind, as they controlled the game under the direction of Ángel Di María, who forced goalkeeper Leonardo Martina into action several times.

Sportivo Belgrano tried to respond with long-range shots from Alfio Lehmann and a volley from Emanuel Mercado, but they were met by the safe hands of Jorge Broun. However, before halftime, Central extended their lead: in the 39th minute, Di María played a through ball to Alejo Véliz, who finished across goal to make it 2-0. Previously, the striker had already had a shot cleared off the line.

In the second half, the pace of the game slowed. The team from Córdoba tightened their defensive lines to avoid a heavier defeat, while the team from Rosario focused on managing possession, creating a few isolated chances through Vicente Pizarro. With this result, Rosario Central is now through to the Round of 32, where they will feature in one of the tournament's most attractive matchups against Estudiantes de La Plata.

Match summary

Rosario Central (2): Jorge Broun; Emanuel Coronel, Ignacio Ovando, Gastón Ávila, Agustín Sandez; Franco Ibarra, Enzo Giménez; Ángel Di María, Vicente Pizarro, Julián Fernández; Alejo Véliz. Coach: Jorge Almirón.

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