1-0: The relegated Patronato, unprecedented champions of the Argentine Cup

Argentine football provides all kinds of surprises. It also has the ability to appoint a champion to a team that a few days ago was relegated. Like almost nothing in the past I cried for the loss of the category, now Patronage he smiled because he had just captured his first star. There are players in red and black jerseys shouting “dale champion” and raising their hands Argentinian Cup.

Thus, 2023 will see Patronato playing in the Copa Libertadores while competing in the Second Division. In addition, next year he will cross Boca (league champion) in the final of the Argentine Super Cup which can be played in Abu Dhabi.

This Entre Ríos team formatted by Facundo Sava, a coach who always comes down to a healthy, offensive proposal, has never resigned his personality. He always believed in his game. He is always looking. And so he faced the final against Talleres.

Not much of a scoring situation. The development is too closed. Zero to zero was not broken and everything seemed to be heading for penalties. However, in the 77th minute, a carom was drawn which meant 1-0 and the title. Tiago Banega went to lock a ball by throwing himself on the ground, outside the area, quite far from the Cordovan goal. The ball rose and flew past goalkeeper Alan Aguerre, almost going in at an angle. An unusual goal.

“We are hungry to be champions. People don’t know many things. This group traveled by bus everywhere. We didn’t go by plane. And to think that sometimes we need to hear that we are tired when we play often”, explained Carlos Quintana, central marker and one of the referents of the Board of Trustees.

“It’s nice to be a champion like that, without going to penalties,” said Facundo Altamirano, the goalkeeper whose shots were key in the series of penalties (he saved 9 of the last 21 kicks) in which the Board eliminating no less than River in the quarterfinals and Boca in the semifinals. Before the two giants, he left Deportivo Morón, Colón and Gimnasia on the way.

An injustice paid by the current players

Patronato finished a very good season, with 40 points and 10th place out of 28 in the Argentine league. Despite that production, he went downhill because of averages. These players paid for the past two seasons, many of which were not even part of the roster. An injustice, after all, to the current protagonists.

Of course, there is the Argentine Cup. And there Patronato had faith and restraint. He continued. Until he found himself enjoying a historic night, his first title. The province of Entre Ríos has never been satisfied with its own champion. Now you have it.