On Monday, August 24, 2026, at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium in Córdoba, Talleres and Rosario Central played out an unforgettable match that ended 2-2 in the sixth round of the 2026 Clausura Tournament of the Argentine Professional League. Referee Sebastián Martínez had a quiet afternoon, but the game was anything but for the teams.
A First Half of Local Dominance
Talleres started strong and took the lead at 21 minutes into the first half thanks to a penalty converted by Agustín Álvarez Martínez. The team coached by Jorge Sampaoli controlled the tempo and went into halftime winning 1-0, with Ezequiel Unsain solid between the posts.
Central's Reaction and Di María's Show
In the second half, Talleres extended their lead with a goal from Valentín Depietri at 3 minutes. It seemed the match was over, but Rosario Central had other plans. At 10 minutes into the second half, Ángel Di María pulled one back from the penalty spot, and at 18 he appeared again to score the equalizer with a stunning goal. The Fideo, who played with an injury, was the standout for the visitors and scored a brace that sent the Kempes crowd into a frenzy.
“Today we showed that we are still alive. The frustration today was because we knew that if we won we would go top and within a point of the Annual Table,” Di María said after the match, visibly emotional.
Unsain, the Hero Under a Rain of Shots
Talleres' goalkeeper, Ezequiel Unsain, was named the man of the match by the newspaper La Voz with a rating of 8. He made multiple key saves, including stops against Enzo Copetti and Di María himself. His performance prevented Central from taking all three points.
Reactions and Controversies
Central's coach, Jorge Almirón, praised his captain: “He carries the team on his shoulders and never stops running.” Meanwhile, Jorge Sampaoli was cautious about his future: “I've been through these situations many times.”
Di María also commented on the suspension received by Leandro Paredes: “What they gave Paredes and Molina is exaggerated.”
Lineups and Substitutions
Ezequiel Unsain; Augusto Schott, Santiago Fernández, Valentín Fascendini, Gabriel Báez; Matías Galarza, Timoteo Chamorro; Franco Cristaldo, Rick Lima, Valentín Depietri; Agustín Álvarez. Coach: Jorge Sampaoli.
Substitutions: 16' ST Valentín Dávila and Emiliano Chiavassa for Agustín Álvarez and Rick Lima; 30' ST Federico Fattori and Alexandro Maidana for Franco Cristaldo and Gabriel Báez; 37' ST Ronaldo Martínez for Valentín Depietri.
Jeremías Ledesma; Emanuel Coronel, Ignacio Ovando, Gastón Ávila, Alexis Soto; Vicente Pizarro, Franco Ibarra; Alan Rodríguez, Ángel Di María, Giovanni Cantizano; Enzo Copetti. Coach: Jorge Almirón.
Substitutions: 11' ST Jaminton Campaz for Alan Rodríguez; 26' ST Federico Navarro for Vicente Pizarro; 34' ST Agustín Sández, Guillermo Fernández and Elías Verón for Emanuel Coronel, Franco Ibarra and Alexis Soto.
Next Challenges
Rosario Central will face Gimnasia (LP) in Round 7 of the Clausura, while Talleres will look to get back to winning ways. The draw leaves Central with the hope of fighting at the top, but with the feeling that it could have been better.