The definition of “reducer” The second upgrade to “first” ended in an uncomfortable, sudden and violent scene. Rio Cuarto’s students returned to Serie A on Sunday after 41 yearsBut the consecration was overtaken by a scandalous end in Puerto Madryn: A field invasion, projectiles from the stands, and a match that cannot be finished As stated in the regulations.
The Empire Lion did what he had to do. With a 2-0 win in Córdoba and a 1-1 draw in revenge – after Luis Silba’s first goal for Deportivo Madryn and an equalizer by Agustín Morales – a 3-1 aggregate decider of the series. But when the clock entered extra time and there were only a few minutes left until the official closing, things got complicated.
At first there were some people hanging from the fence, inside the stadium. Then things flew from the local stands. Referee Facundo Tello stopped the match and began collecting projectiles Who was thrown on the field while he was asking the fans to get out of the fence while holding the microphone in his hand. Far from calming down, tensions increased.
In a completely hostile environment and with no minimum guarantees for survival, Thilo made the only possible decision: Finish the game. Estudiantes’ promotion was decreed, but there was no whistle of relief or public celebration. It all came down to kind of He ordered escape to protect himself from violence.
The Cordoba players couldn’t even hug each other on the field. As soon as the referee indicated the final closure, They ran into the tunnel to protect themselves from the barrage of projectiles. The entry of Deportivo Madryn fans, who broke parts of the fence and stormed the stadium.
The surreal ending had scenes far removed from a football match. Local goalkeeper, Jair Boonen, tried to act as mediator and ended up being reprimanded by fans, who demanded his property. Other footballers’ shirts were torn. He was The pushing, the insults, the moments of panicWhile the police tried to fully contain the already tense situation.
There were no prizes on the field. There was no Olympic comeback. There were no celebration photos With the audience. The promotion, one of the most important moments in Estudiantes’ sporting history, turned into a simple celebration in the locker room, away from the stands and in silence, as if it had happened in secret.
The local fans decided to spoil the celebration for others, as if they thought everything had been resolved that way Deportivo Madryn who reached this final thanks to the treacherous help of the referee In the previous cases (at the expense of Gimnasia y Esgrima de Jujuy and Deportivo Morón).
Only later, when the stadium was partially cleared, did Marcelo Accelli, president of the Asian Football Confederation and a man close to Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia, hand over power. A symbolic cup for coach Ivan Delfino and some players Who briefly returned to the field. A formal gesture to close the definition of an emotionally incomplete shadow.
There is yes without an audience The students were able to celebrate and stand up forever after this feat Which returns them to the first category after 41 years.
For Deportivo Madryn, the result once again reflected a season filled with frustration as only the referee’s assistance led to the loss of the final. He needed to win by two goals to force a penalty shootout, but he failed to get it. A portion of his fans chose violence as a response.
It is assumed that the Argentine Football Association will seriously punish Deportivo Madryn Because of the indefensible reactions of their fans, who literally turned a football match into a scandal that could have ended much worse.
On the other hand, sporting balance is historic for Estudiantes de Río Cuarto. Four decades later, he returned to the elite of Argentine football, bringing back to Cordoba a postcard that had not been repeated since 1985: Four teams from the governorate are in first placealong with Belgrano, Talleres, Instituto and Racing.