Buenos Aires, November 18 (NA) — With the conclusion of the Primera B Metropolitana Clausura tournament, the pairings for the promotion playoff that will grant the second ascent to the Primera Nacional have been defined. According to information from the Argentine News Agency, the fixtures will be: Real Pilar vs. Flandria, Argentino de Merlo vs. Excursionistas, Deportivo Armenio vs. Sportivo Italiano, and Acassuso vs. Villa San Carlos. All matches will be played in a home-and-away format, with the higher-ranked team hosting the decisive second leg. The quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final will also be two-legged ties, with home advantage inverted based on the overall league table. If the tie is level after the second 90 minutes, the series will be decided by a penalty shootout. Sunday also saw a dramatic conclusion to the relegation battle: Sacachispas was relegated after Deportivo Merlo won, and UAI Urquiza drew with Laferrere. "Lila", who had a bye in the final round, will join Fénix in the Primera C next season in a conclusion that changed minute by minute. Meanwhile, the results allowed Flandria, who had beaten Midland 1-0 on Saturday, to secure the final playoff spot. Merlo, needing a win to avoid relegation, came from behind to defeat San Martín de Burzaco 3-1, while Laferrere's chance of qualifying was ended by UAI Urquiza's last-minute equalizer, which also saved UAI Urquiza from relegation.
