Véliz Strikes Again as Rosario Central Edges Platense, Extending Unbeaten Run and Eyeing the Summit
On a brisk spring evening at the Estadio Gigante de Arroyito, Rosario Central continued their remarkable unbeaten surge through the Liga Profesional Argentina, dispatching Platense 1-0 in a contest defined by Alejo Véliz’s relentless precision and a defense that refused to yield. With this victory, Central solidifies their position among the league’s elite, remaining undefeated after 11 matches and closing in on the top, while Platense’s struggles deepen amid a winless October.
The match unfolded under high stakes and palpable tension, with Central needing three points to maintain the momentum built over their last five outings—a run that had seen them topple giants like River Plate and Boca Juniors, and grind out vital draws against formidable rivals. Platense, by contrast, arrived hampered by inconsistency, perched 13th in the table, desperate for a spark to ignite a campaign stuck in neutral.
From the opening whistle, Rosario Central made their intentions clear, dominating possession and probing Platense’s disciplined lines. The hosts relied on the creative engine of Ignacio Malcorra and the tireless movement of Franco Ibarra, weaving intricate patterns and forcing Platense to defend deep. Platense, cautious but not cowed, relied on counterattacks orchestrated by Ronaldo Martinez and Óscar Salomón, looking to exploit any lapse in Central’s composure.
The first half saw few clear chances, defensive rigor trumping attacking flair, until the shadows of halftime began to lengthen. Platense’s keeper was twice forced into crucial saves from Malcorra’s curling efforts, but the scoreboard remained untouched as both teams retreated to the tunnel, knowing the next twist could shift the narrative.
The breakthrough, when it came, bore the unmistakable stamp of Alejo Véliz, whose scoring touch has rewritten Central’s script this autumn. In the 51st minute, after sustained pressure, Malcorra picked out Véliz with a deft diagonal pass threading through defenders. Véliz, gliding past his marker, met the ball in stride and delivered a low drive to the far corner—his sixth goal in five matches, and a moment emblematic of Central’s transformation from cautious contender to confident challenger.
Platense responded with a renewed urgency, pressing higher and carving out two promising attacks. Maximiliano Rodríguez rifled a shot just wide on 65 minutes, foreshadowing Platense’s belief they could conjure an equalizer. But Central’s backline, marshaled by the ever-composed Enzo Giménez, stood resolute, absorbing pressure and breaking up forays with practiced efficiency.
The final passages of play escalated in drama. Platense’s frustration peaked in the 82nd minute when Salomón saw yellow for a reckless challenge, curbing his side’s fragile momentum. Central, sensing the finish line, almost doubled the lead as Franco Ibarra thundered through midfield and set up Ángel Di María—a late substitute whose audacious volley narrowly missed, drawing gasps from the Arroyito faithful.
With the final whistle, Rosario Central’s supporters erupted, their side earning a fifth win to go with six draws, now boasting 21 points—just a stone’s throw from the summit and five clear of sixth place. Platense, meanwhile, slumped off, now with just two wins through 11 matches and a growing gap separating them from the upper half of the league.
Context makes this night more than just three points. Central’s arc over the past month is one of persistence rewarded: victories at Velez Sarsfield and Gimnasia L.P., commanding performances against River Plate, and a sturdy spine evidenced in consecutive draws with Talleres and Boca Juniors. The chemistry between Véliz, Malcorra, and Di María is yielding dividends that could yet define the campaign’s closing chapters.
Platense’s narrative is less forgiving. Their last five have seen just one victory, and tonight’s narrow defeat exposed fragilities—an attack that sputters past the hour mark and a defense that, while tenacious, is too often left clinging. The absence of a late equalizer continues a trend: their recent draws with Deportivo Riestra and San Martin S.J. have shown flashes of resolve but little in the way of decisive finishing.
Head-to-head, these teams have waged measured battles in recent years, trading narrow victories but rarely separating themselves by more than a goal. Tonight’s scoreline—Central 1, Platense 0—echoes that pattern, a testament to parity, but also to Rosario’s mounting ability to tip the balance with a single moment’s brilliance.
Looking ahead, Rosario Central’s unbeaten streak gives them control of their destiny, each match carrying the promise of ascension. With tougher fixtures looming and the league’s elite within reach, their challenge will be to maintain this intensity and avoid the pitfalls that have derailed previous campaigns.
Platense, by contrast, faces introspection and urgency. The margin for error shrinks with every passing week, and only a run of form can revive hopes for a mid-table resurgence. Their task is clear: rediscover attacking incisiveness and tighten the defensive screws, or risk watching the season slip away.
For now, Rosario Central’s faithful will savor the sweet taste of possibility—a team undefeated, a striker in irresistible form, and eyes fixed firmly on the summit. The next chapter beckons, but tonight belongs to the Arroyito and the man who made the difference: Alejo Véliz.