Rosario Central's reserve team suffered a clear 3-0 defeat to Newell's Old Boys in the Rosario classic of the Proyección tournament. The match, played on September 24 at the Centro Jorge Griffa with free entry, was preceded by a moment of high tension during the coin toss.
Joaquín Espina, Central's captain, and Francisco Sciarini, Newell's goalkeeper, were involved in a verbal clash before kick-off. The referee's question was 'AFA or FIFA?'. Espina chose AFA, and Sciarini replied with a curt 'Normal…'. The canalla captain, visibly annoyed, shot back at his rival: 'Que no falte el respeto, que no arranque'. The captains did not shake hands, setting the tone for an intense duel.
A quick thrashing
On the pitch, the team coached by Lucas Bernardi was far superior. Joaquín Amadio opened the scoring and later extended the lead, completing a brace. Genaro Castelli sealed the 3-0 rout, confirming the leproso's clear dominance throughout the 90 minutes. Central's side, whose first team sits a commendable second in the top flight with 18 points, could not replicate that level in their reserve category.
The defeat contrasts with the first team's good form, coming off a 1-0 win over Argentinos Juniors last matchday with a goal from Ignacio Ovando. Performance in the Liga Profesional, where top scorer Ángel Di María has 8 goals, is the primary focus.
Presence of figures
The match was attended by several first-team players, who watched from the stands. Among them were Walter Núñez, Marcelo Esponda and forward Matías Cóccaro. Their attendance underlines the importance the club places on these youth clashes, despite the adverse result.
Central's reserve team must pick themselves up quickly. The focus now returns to the senior side, which prepares for its next official match against Banfield on October 6. To review the full squad and their stats, supporters can visit the squad section.
First reported at La Nacion AR Deportes
