Rosario Central defeated Barracas Central 2-0 on Sunday night at the Gigante de Arroyito in the fifth matchday of the 2026 Torneo Apertura. The victory marked Central’s first home win of the year and propels them up the Zona B standings, building momentum after recently qualifying for the next round of the Copa Argentina.
Central dominated the match from start to finish, but the breakthrough goal proved elusive until Enzo Copetti finally broke the deadlock. Late in the game, Ángel Di María sealed the win with a stunning finish.
The opening ten minutes were disjointed, characterized by frequent fouls, off-the-ball incidents, and tactical attempts to disrupt the flow of the game.
Di María began to dictate the tempo, delivering pinpoint passes, though Copetti and Giménez were initially slow to react, missing early opportunities. Despite their efforts, Central struggled to trouble Barracas goalkeeper Miño for the first half-hour.
Ovando’s header and a long-range shot from Di María, which produced a difficult save for the keeper, were the closest Central came to opening the scoring in the first half.
In the second half, Central continued to press forward, relentlessly attacking the Barracas goal. Di María nearly scored himself, hitting the crossbar with a clever run and shot. However, while “Fideo” lamented his near miss, Sández delivered a pinpoint cross for Copetti, who made no mistake this time.
⚽️¡GOL DE CENTRAL! COPETTI PONE EL 1 A 0 ANTE BARRACAS����
2️⃣2️⃣De cabeza, el delantero canalla logró poner en ventaja a Central en el segundo tiempo. pic.twitter.com/62qPTvDolY— Rosario3.com (@Rosariotres) February 16, 2026
Central deservedly took the lead. They continued to control possession, switching the point of attack and creating further chances. Their only frustration was a lack of clinical finishing.
However, Di María’s class shone through again late in the match to put the game beyond doubt. He latched onto a loose ball in the area and deftly chipped it over the onrushing Miño.
It was a dominant performance for Central, who overcame a tricky opponent, clearly outplayed their rivals, converted their chances, saw Copetti rediscover his scoring touch, and witnessed a masterful display from Di María. A joyous occasion amidst the carnival celebrations.
