Liga Profesional
Di María rescues Rosario Central to draw with Talleres in Cordoba
Lionel Di María scored twice, including a penalty, to help Rosario Central come from behind and secure a 2-2 draw against Talleres Cordoba at Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes.
Talleres Cordoba took the lead in the 21st minute through a penalty converted by A. Alvarez, setting the tone for a tense first half at Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes. The home side extended their advantage early in the second half when V. Depietri found the net in the 47th minute, capitalizing on an assist from T. Chamorro. However, Rosario Central responded swiftly, with A. Di Maria converting a penalty in the 55th minute to pull one back. The visitors equalized in the 63rd minute when Di Maria scored again, this time assisted by F. Ibarra, completing the comeback.
The match was a card-heavy affair, with ten yellow cards dished out across both sides. Rosario Central players V. Pizarro, A. Rodriguez, J. Almiron, E. Copetti, F. Ibarra, and A. Di Maria were all booked, while Talleres Cordoba saw V. Depietri, J. Sampaoli, A. Schott, and V. Fascendini receive cautions. The game remained heated until the final whistle, with late bookings in stoppage time for Di Maria and Fascendini.
Both teams entered the match in 4-2-3-1 formations under their respective coaches, Jorge Almiron for Rosario Central and Jorge Sampaoli for Talleres Cordoba. Referee S. Martinez kept a tight rein on proceedings, managing a competitive but fair contest in Cordoba.
Despite the draw, Rosario Central maintained their position in the playoff places, sitting fourth in Clausura - Group B with 10 points from five games. Talleres Cordoba, meanwhile, remained rooted in 15th place in Clausura - Group A, still searching for their second win of the campaign.
The result left both sides with mixed feelings. Talleres Cordoba will rue the failure to hold onto a two-goal lead, while Rosario Central can take encouragement from their resilience in fighting back twice. For Di Maria, the performance was a reminder of his experience and composure in crucial moments, delivering when his team needed him most.
The draw keeps the race for the playoffs intriguing in both groups, with Rosario Central just outside the automatic qualification spots and Talleres Cordoba desperately needing points to climb away from the relegation zone. The match will be remembered for its dramatic swings and the individual brilliance of Di Maria, who single-handedly turned the tide for his side.