Newell’s Old Boys progressed to the last 16 of the Copa Argentina with a much-needed 4-2 victory over Aldosivi on Wednesday night.
The game was delayed by 20 minutes, such was the large number of Newell’s fans who had travelled to San Nicolás for the game with the team bus getting stuck in traffic created by the convoy from Rosario.
Aldosivi, fielding somewhat of a second-string team, shocked Newell’s after just 14 minutes when Braian Martínez got on the end of a defence-splitting pass to shoot past Franco Herrera and open the scoring. Guillermo Balzi had Newell’s back on level terms within 5 minutes when the young midfielder guided a right-footed shot into the far corner of the net amidst a crowded Aldosivi box.
Juan Garro put La Lepra ahead on the half-hour mark after the ball broke kindly for him inside the box and he side-footed a shot past Luis Ingolotti. Newell’s were pegged back again just before half-time when Facundo Tobares snuck behind Cristian Lema to get on the end of a smart pass and he slotted home to ensure the teams went in at 2-2.
Juan Garro grabbed his second of the match by way of a header on 57 minutes while Newell’s pulled away for a 2-goal win in the end when Guillermo Balzi was hauled down in the box on 76 minutes and Lema stepped forward to bury the penalty.
A first win in six for Newell’s signals a sigh of relief from Javier Sanguinetti and the imminent signing of Lautaro Morales from Lanús should pave over the cracks that have appeared in the goalkeeping position since Ramiro Macagno got injured.
Talleres await Newell’s in the next round of the cup.
Watch the highlights of the match below.
