Malcorra’s Last-Gasp Penalty Lifts Rosario Central Past Velez Sarsfield in High-Stakes Clash

The shadows stretched long across the pitch at Estadio José Amalfitani as Ignacio Malcorra, Rosario Central’s veteran midfielder, stepped to the spot in the 90th minute. The gravity of the moment echoed from the terraces to the touchline: a penalty kick, level score, and a chance to topple one of the league’s most consistent sides on their home turf. With unyielding composure, Malcorra dispatched his effort, sending Velez goalkeeper Leonardo Burián the wrong way and sealing a 2-1 victory that reshapes the Liga Profesional Argentina’s title race.

What had, for long stretches, been a studied tactical duel, unraveled in a feverish finale as Velez’s R. Aliendro was shown a straight red card moments after conceding the decisive penalty—an ending befitting a night marked by intensity, controversy, and the high stakes of an October Saturday.

The Path to the Penalty

Rosario Central arrived in Buenos Aires with their unbeaten record intact and momentum in hand after a string of robust performances, including a statement win over River Plate just a week prior. But it was Velez Sarsfield—second in the table, undisputedly the league’s steadiest unit—who carved out the match’s first half-chance, probing through midfield orchestrator Manuel Lanzini and veteran forward Braian Romero.

Yet, it was Rosario Central who struck first. In the 17th minute, Alejo Véliz, the visitors’ emerging talisman, capped off a fluid counterattack, arriving between two defenders to meet Franco Ibarra’s cross with a controlled finish. For Central, whose blend of youth and experience has become their signature, it was a reward for early ambition—and further proof of Véliz’s rising stature in Argentine football.

A Tale of Two Halves

Velez, undeterred, turned the screws early in the second half. Their pressure finally yielded in the 51st minute, when Lanzini, ever the catalyst, finished off a move he’d started. A sharp give-and-go with Romero unlocked Central’s defense, and Lanzini’s low drive beat Jorge Broun at the near post. The home crowd, momentarily subdued, roared back to life.

The equalizer injected urgency into both ranks. Rosario Central, keen to preserve their unblemished record, recalibrated—leaning on the experience of Ángel Di María, who, while not on the scoresheet, remained a constant threat along the left flank. Velez, meanwhile, sought to capitalize on their momentum, forcing a pair of acrobatic saves from Broun as Romero and Damián Fernández each tested the veteran keeper.

But destiny, as it so often does, hinged on a single lapse. In the closing seconds of regulation, a scramble inside the Velez 18-yard box saw Aliendro lunge in, catching Enzo Giménez with a stray boot. Referee Germán Delfino pointed to the spot. The stadium held its breath as Malcorra coolly converted, shattering Velez’s resistance—and with it, their eight-match home unbeaten streak. Aliendro’s protestations were met with a swift red card; the final whistle followed soon after.

The Stakes in the Standings

The result reverberates far beyond the touchlines of Liniers. Velez Sarsfield, so often the model of consistency this campaign, remain in second place with 22 points after 11 matches (6W-4D-1L), but their grip on the title chase now feels less secure. Rosario Central, meanwhile, climb to 21 points from 11 matches (5W-6D-0L), narrowing the gap and extending their unbeaten run—now the only team left in Argentina without a league loss.

For Velez, the loss is a jarring note amid what has been a formidable stretch domestically, offset only by a pair of recent Libertadores defeats at the hands of Racing Club. While Lanzini continues to find the net and Romero’s form remains steady, the team’s discipline will come under scrutiny as they prepare to battle through the congested middle of their schedule.

Rosario Central’s unbeaten campaign, by contrast, continues to gather momentum. With back-to-back signature wins—first River Plate, now Velez—the Canalla have positioned themselves as bona fide contenders. The disciplined back line, the emergence of Véliz, and Malcorra’s nerve all speak to a side peaking at the season’s most decisive juncture.

History and What Comes Next

These two sides share a rich history, punctuated by tense, closely fought encounters. Velez had claimed narrow wins in the last two league meetings at Amalfitani, but tonight Rosario Central rewrote the script, securing their first away victory at Velez in two seasons.

The road ahead grows treacherous. For Velez Sarsfield, the task is to regroup, reassert their home dominance, and keep pace at the league’s summit. For Rosario Central, whose run of draws earlier in the campaign threatened to undermine their ambition, the message is unmistakable: with belief and balance, the top of the table is within reach.

As fans spilled out into the Buenos Aires night, the echoes of Malcorra’s penalty lingered—a reminder of how, in October’s chill, the Liga Profesional’s fortunes can pivot in an instant.