Rosario Central snatched a dramatic 3-2 away win over Atlético Tucumán with a late strike from Julián Fernández. The match, played on Saturday night at the Estadio Monumental José Fierro for the 13th round of the Torneo Clausura 2026, kept Jorge Almirón's side firmly at the top of the standings with 25 points from a record of seven wins, four draws, and two losses. Gastón Ávila gave the visitors a two-goal lead inside the first seven minutes. The defender headed home from an Ángel Di María cross after just 3 minutes and doubled the advantage at the 6-minute mark, again with his head from a Giovanni Cantizano assist. Atlético Tucumán fought back before the break. Alexis Canelo pulled one back in the 37th minute and Ramiro Ruiz Rodríguez leveled the score at 42 minutes, following a move by Leandro Díaz.
The game seemed headed for a draw until the introduction of Julián Fernández. The midfielder came on in the 33rd minute of the second half and, in the 80th minute, fired home a powerful shot to secure all three points for Rosario Central. "Rosario Central found in Julián Fernández's entry the key to taking a win that had become more complicated than expected in this province," said coach Jorge Almirón after the final whistle.
The win solidifies the Canalla's position at the summit of the Argentine league with 25 points from 7 wins, 4 draws and only 2 losses in 13 games. The team is now on a five-match unbeaten run, with four wins and a draw, and is currently on a three-game winning streak. Their attacking form this season has been strong, with 20 goals scored and only 11 conceded, giving them a +9 goal difference. Their next fixture is on Sunday 25 October, when they host seventh-placed Huracán at the Gigante de Arroyito. Forward Ángel Di María, who provided an assist in Tucumán, is the team's top scorer this season with 10 goals. This win in Tucumán follows other recent results like the 5-0 victory over Independiente Rivadavia and the 1-1 draw with Banfield, which have been key to maintaining their league leadership.
First reported at elgrafico.com.ar
