Argentina Cup: In the end, Independiente clinched a hard-fought victory | El Rojo faced more challenges than anticipated against Gimnasia de Mendoza.

The team pushed Independiente towards victory in San Luis. The skill of Kevin Lomónaco and the runs on the flanks by Chilean Felipe Loyola and Colombian Alvaro Angulo disrupted what was initially a more balanced match. This led the Rojo from Avellaneda to win 2-1 against Gimnasia y Esgrima from Mendoza in the round of 32 of the Copa Argentina. In the round of 16, they will face Belgrano de Córdoba, who defeated Defensores de Belgrano 3-2 on Friday.

With a wind chill of two degrees below zero at the whistle for kick-off and after a cautious start, Gimnasia de Mendoza, a team currently in fourth place in Zone B of the Primera Nacional, began to loosen up. After goalkeeper Rey saved a fierce left foot shot from outside the box by Andrada in the 28th minute, Mondino intercepted a ball in the red area and sent it to the net amid the slow reaction of Independiente’s goalkeeper. Just before the goal, referee Sebastián Zunino had failed to call a foul for a hold on Avalos by Mondino inside the box.

Four minutes into the second half, there was another penalty for Saavedra on Cabral, which Zunino did call, and Montiel scored with a high left foot shot to the left of goalkeeper Rigamonti. Unclear with the ball and lacking finesse, Independiente still pursued victory, relying on Lomónaco‘s ability to carry the ball forward and the advances of Loyola (who moved to play as a full-back when his compatriot Galdames came on for Vera) and Angulo, who was nearing the end of his time at the club and strongly criticized the management after the match: “I have a lot of anger towards them.”

With just two minutes left and as the match seemed to be heading for penalties, Loyola sent a cross to the far post and Angulo headed in the goal that gave Independiente a victory they had to fight hard for against a team from a different category, but who battled until the very end.