Buenos Aires, Jan 29 (NA) -- In a match with few goal-scoring chances that could only be opened via a penalty, Sarmiento beat Banfield 1-0 at the Eva Perón stadium, for the second matchday of Zone B of the 2026 Apertura Tournament. According to Argentine News Agency, the only goal of the night was scored by forward Diego Churin, from a penalty, in the sixth minute of added time in the first half. Additionally, Banfield played with a man less from the 43rd minute of the first stage, with the expulsion of defender Nicolás Meriano. With the victory, the "Green" is seventh in Zone B with three points, while the team coached by Pedro Troglio fell to eleventh place with a single point. In the next round, the team led by Facundo Sava will visit Mendoza to face Independiente Rivadavia on Tuesday, February 3 at 9:15 PM, while on the same day, but starting at 7:00 PM, the "Drill" will receive Estudiantes de Río Cuarto. The first chance was for Sarmiento, in the seventh minute, with an individual play and a low shot from winger Jhon Rentería, although his shot went into the hands of goalkeeper Facundo Sanguinetti. In the 13th minute, winger Santiago Salle advanced from the right towards the middle and looked for a high shot to the near post, slightly wide. Three minutes later came Banfield's first chance, with a low and powerful shot from defender Ignacio Abraham on a free kick, which was deflected after a good reaction from goalkeeper Javier Burrai. In the 43rd minute, after a corner and a good header to the far post saved by Sanguinetti, a tackle from defender Nicolás Meriano resulted in his expulsion and a penalty for the home team. The aforementioned penalty was executed by Diego Churin, in the sixth minute of added time, who crossed a low right-footed shot to make it 1-0. The first attack of the second half was from "The Drill" with a shot from the right side by forward Mauro Méndez that went wide and passed near the far post. The home team's first chance in the second half came in the 22nd minute, with a shot after a half-turn by Rentería, although it was a weak shot that went into the goalkeeper Sanguinetti's hands. With time up, forward Julián Contrera had a good individual play from the middle to the left and shot high to the near post, although the Banfield goalkeeper could deflect his shot. In the fourth minute of added time, forward Junior Marabel had a one-on-one but could not beat Sanguinetti, who shrank to the edge of the penalty area and stopped the shot with his left arm.
