Alan Velasco opens the scoring with a great goal from outside the box in the 51st minute in Sarmiento x Boca Juniors in the Argentine Cup
On the night of Thursday, July 16, 2026, the Julio César Villagra Stadium, in Córdoba, is the stage for a crucial clash for the Argentine Cup. Boca Juniors has the slightest advantage over Sarmiento, thanks to a solitary goal from Alan Velasco, who found the net in the 51st minute of the second half. With the score at 1-0 for the Xeneizes, the match, valid for the round of 16 of the competition, remains in progress, with the clocks indicating around 62 minutes played and the atmosphere of decision growing with every moment on the pitch. The tension is palpable as both teams fight for a place in the next round.
Boca Juniors take crucial lead with Alan Velasco goal
Alan Velasco’s goal, scored at the beginning of the second half, completely transformed the dynamics of the confrontation between Sarmiento and Boca Juniors. In the 51st minute, the attacker took advantage of a well-constructed move by the blue and gold team to finish with precision and open the scoring. This decisive moment not only guaranteed the provisional leadership for Boca, but also imposed new urgency on Sarmiento, who is now looking to recover so as not to be eliminated from the tournament. The team from the capital, known for its determination in cups, shows resilience in trying to hold on to the result away from home, managing the pressure from the opponent and the weather.
The Argentine Cup is a knockout competition that, historically, has great surprises and fierce clashes between teams from different divisions. For Boca Juniors, progress is essential to maintain its winning tradition and seek another title for its vast gallery, solidifying its position as one of the giants of Argentine football. As for Sarmiento, facing and trying to reverse the score against a strong opponent like Boca is a golden opportunity to demonstrate their strength, ambition and ability to compete at a high level on the national stage. The expectation is that the remaining minutes will be filled with emotion and intense tactical strategies.
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Main moments of the game until the 62nd minute of the match
The confrontation between Sarmiento and Boca Juniors has been marked by an intense tactical and physical dispute, culminating in the goal that opened the scoring. By the time the match reached the 62-minute mark, several events were crucial in shaping the current scenario of the game. The initial pressure from both teams generated opportunities and moments of tension, with the referee needing to intervene on some occasions to maintain control of the match and ensure discipline on the field.
- 18′ – Foul by Tomás Santamaría (Sarmiento):Sarmiento’s defender committed an infraction, resulting in the game being stopped. This initial move demonstrated the intensity with which the home team was seeking to contain Boca Juniors’ advance, indicating a physical game with many disputes in midfield. The foul underlined Sarmiento’s determination not to give the opponent space from the first minutes.
- 41′ – Rodrigo Orihuela’s disagreement (Sarmiento):Shortly before half-time, Rodrigo Orihuela, also from Sarmiento, was warned for disagreement over words or actions. This reflects the growing tension in the match and the players’ frustration with some decisions, showing that emotions were running high. The warning served as a warning for the home team to stay focused.
- Range (HT 0 – 0):The first half ended goalless, with both teams studying each other and looking for space. The defensive strategy prevailed, and the blank score at halftime left the scenario completely open for the second stage, promising more emotions and tactical adjustments from the coaches. The teams came back from the locker room with the need to create more offensive volume.
- 51′ – Goal by Alan Velasco (Boca Juniors):The big moment of the match came in the 51st minute, when Alan Velasco, assisted by Milton Delgado, finished into the back of the net. This was the move that broke the balance and gave Boca Juniors the advantage, raising the temperature of the game. The goal breathed new life into the visitors and put Sarmiento under intense pressure.
- 53′ – Boca Juniors offside:After the goal, Boca Juniors tried to maintain offensive pressure, but Leonel Flores was caught in an irregular position when trying to pass through Leandro Lozano. This moment showed the Xeneize team’s attempt to increase the score and the need for attention from Sarmiento’s defense, which needed to remain organized to avoid the second goal.
- 55′ – Foul by Alan Velasco (Boca Juniors):The scorer of the goal, Alan Velasco, committed a foul on Mauricio Martínez (Sarmiento) in the defensive field, showing that the intensity of the game did not decrease after the goal and that disputes for the ball continued to be fierce in all areas of the field. The move showed that the match continued with a high degree of physical contact.
- 56′ – Corner for Boca Juniors:Boca’s pressure continued, resulting in a corner conceded by Sarmiento’s Julián Contrera. The visiting team sought to take advantage of the dead balls to try to score the second goal and consolidate their advantage, showing their offensive repertoire.
- 56′ – Blocked shot by Leonel Flores (Boca Juniors):Shortly after the corner, Leonel Flores (Boca Juniors) had a shot with his left foot blocked from the middle of the area, assisted by Tomás Aranda. Sarmiento’s defense, despite the pressure, demonstrated that it would not give up easily, remaining alert to avoid the second goal and showing its ability to react.
- 59′ – Consecutive fouls (Sarmiento and Boca):Elián Giménez (Sarmiento) committed a foul on Santiago Ascacíbar (Boca Juniors) in the defensive field, who suffered the infraction. These moves show the intense fight for control of the midfield and the difficulty of both teams in creating clean plays, reflecting the high competitiveness of the match.
- 60′ – Missed opportunity from Santiago Salle (Sarmiento):Santiago Salle (Sarmiento) had a chance to equalize, finishing with his right foot from outside the box, after an assist from Elián Giménez. This clear opportunity demonstrates Sarmiento’s reaction in search of the equalizer and the imminent danger for Boca Juniors’ goal, keeping fans in suspense and expectations high for the final minutes.
Analysis of substitutions and tactical movements
The technical committees of Sarmiento and Boca Juniors have already made strategic changes, seeking to adjust their teams to how the match unfolds and react to events on the field. Substitutions are crucial tools to change the pace of the game, strengthen the defense or intensify the attack, especially in a knockout match where every detail can be decisive for the final result of the match.
- 57′ – Two changes to Sarmiento:Sarmiento’s coach, Facundo Sava, made two simultaneous substitutions in an attempt to react to the goal conceded and breathe new life into the team. Manuel Garcia entered the field in place of Mauricio Martínez, while Elián Giménez replaced Gabriel Díaz. These changes indicate a search for greater vigor in midfield and on the flanks, aiming both to create offensive plays and contain the opponent. The entry of fresh players can revitalize the team and try to change the scenario of the match, seeking the much-needed equalizer.
- Options on the reserve bench:Both teams have a robust bench, with players capable of influencing the outcome of the match. At Sarmiento, names like Iván Arboleda, Lucas Suárez, Gastón Arturia, Facundo Alaggia, Gastón González, Yair Arismendi, Julián Mavilla, Pablo Magnin, Brandon Márquez and Diego Churin are available, offering several tactical possibilities for the coach. Boca Juniors has options such as Javier García, Lautaro Di Lollo, Dylan Gorosito, Marco Pellegrino, Camilo Rey Domenech, Malcom Braida, Williams Alarcón, Carlos Palacios, Kevin Zenón, Milton Giménez and Ángel Romero, who can be used to maintain intensity, reinforce the defense or look for a turnaround, depending on the needs of the game. The presence of experienced players and young talents on the benches of both clubs reinforces the depth of their squads and their ability to adapt.
Tactics and formation: the structure of teams on the field
The game strategies adopted by Sarmiento coach Facundo Sava and Boca Juniors’ Rodolfo Arruabarrena are evident in their teams’ initial formations. Tactical choice is fundamental to performance on the field, defining how players position themselves, attack and defend throughout the 90 minutes of play, especially in a World Cup context.
Sarmiento formation (4-5-1):
Sarmiento entered the field with a more conservative formation, a 4-5-1, seeking defensive solidity and exploring quick counterattacks. This structure was designed to close spaces and hinder the progression of Boca Juniors, a team known for its offensive power.
- Goalkeeper:T. Ayala (12)
- Defenders:T. Santamaría (29), R. Orihuela (44), J. M. Insaurralde (2 – Captain), N. Pasquini (77)
- Midfield:J. Contrera (19), C. Zabala (15), M. Martínez (16), G. Díaz (33), S. Salle (8)
- Attacker:J. Marabel (27)
This structure indicates a priority on closing spaces and congesting the midfield, making Boca Juniors’ progression difficult. The presence of five midfielders suggests an attempt to control ball possession and create numerical superiority in the defensive transition, aiming to recover the ball and organize counterattacks. The only striker, J. Marabel, has the responsibility of being the main target in quick attack plays, seeking to take advantage of any gap in the opponent’s defense.
Boca Juniors formation (4-2-3-1):
Boca Juniors, in turn, opted for a 4-2-3-1, a more offensive formation that allows the creation of many plays on the sides and in the center of the attack, exploiting the individual skills of its players.
- Goalkeeper:L. Brey (12)
- Defenders:L. Lozano (17), N. Figal (4), A. Costa (32), L. Blanco (3)
- Steering wheels:S. Ascacíbar (25), M. Delgado (18)
- Offensive midfield:L. Flores (19), T. Aranda (10), A. Velasco (20)
- Attacker:M. Merentiel (16 – Captain)
The Xeneize formation focuses on creating plays and the presence of skilled players in the final third of the field. With two midfielders protecting the defense and three attacking midfielders behind center forward M. Merentiel, Boca seeks to dominate possession and put pressure on the opposing defense, using the speed and technique of players like Alan Velasco, who has already proven decisive with the goal. This strategy aims at offensive fluidity and the ability to finish dangerous plays.
Arbitration team and technical command on the bench
The conduct of the match is in the hands of Nazareno Arasa, the central referee of the match. With an average of 0.35 yellow cards for players and 5.10 cards for the rest of the match (members of the coaching staff, etc.), Arasa is known for maintaining a certain disciplinary rigor, but also for allowing the flow of the game, which can influence the intensity of disputes on the field. So far, the refereeing has been tested by free kicks and disagreements, such as the one that led to the warning from Sarmiento’s Rodrigo Orihuela, showing that the match requires constant attention.
On each team’s bench, coaches Facundo Sava (Sarmiento) and Rodolfo Arruabarrena (Boca Juniors) are the strategists behind the tactics and decisions that shape their teams’ performance. Sava, who was even warned for disagreement in words or actions, seeks with his substitutions to reverse the disadvantage and inject new energy into Sarmiento. Arruabarrena, on the other hand, tries to consolidate the lead and ensure Boca Juniors’ classification, monitoring each move to avoid surprises and maintain tactical control of the match. The experience of both coaches is crucial in these decisive moments.
Predictions and the final development of the Argentine Cup
With the score 1-0 in favor of Boca Juniors and the match approaching the final minutes of the second half, the tension in Julio César Villagra is palpable. Sarmiento, playing at home and with the support of their fans, intensifies their search for the equalizing goal, aware that the Argentine Cup does not allow for mistakes and that elimination could be just a few minutes away. Missed opportunities, such as Santiago Salle’s finish in the 60th minute, increase the pressure on the home team, which needs an immediate response to stay alive in the competition and dream of the next stage.
On the other hand, Boca Juniors tries to control the pace of the game, using its experience in decisive moments to defend the advantage gained. Rodolfo Arruabarrena’s team’s strategy involves maintaining possession of the ball, circulating the game intelligently and avoiding unnecessary risks, but without giving up counterattacks that could end the match and guarantee victory. The objective is to secure a place in the next phase of the tournament, consolidating the campaign. The outcome of this clash promises strong emotions, with both teams fighting until the last second for the much-desired advancement in the Argentine Cup. The game still continues, and the final result remains open, with each move potentially being decisive.
