Banfield edges Sarmiento 3-2 in chaotic Clausura Tournament match

Banfield secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Sarmiento at home, marking their first win of the Clausura Tournament. The match, which opened the second round, was characterized by a flurry of second-half goals, significant goalkeeping errors, and a tense finish.

The first half saw no goals, but the second half exploded into action. Banfield took a 1-0 lead in the 53rd minute due to a costly mistake by Sarmiento's goalkeeper, Iván Arboleda. Arboleda, a former Banfield player, misplayed a back pass, allowing David Zalazar to intercept and assist Tiziano Perrotta for the opening goal.

Perrotta extended Banfield's lead to 2-0 in the 62nd minute with another well-placed shot. The advantage grew to 3-0 in the 82nd minute when Bruno Sepúlveda calmly converted a penalty, awarded after Arboleda fouled Tomás Adoryan. However, the match took a dramatic turn as Sarmiento mounted a late comeback.

Sarmiento pulled one back in the 85th minute when Banfield's goalkeeper, Facundo Sanguinetti, mishandled a back pass, gifting Jonathan Herrera an open net. Just minutes later, Junior Marabel further reduced the deficit, capitalizing on a defensive mix-up from a corner kick. Despite Sarmiento's late surge and desperate attempts to equalize with long balls, Banfield held on for the win.