Aaron Centurin was the late hero as Argentinos Juniors' reserve team fought back to earn a 1-1 draw away to Vélez in the Torneo Proyección Clausura. The midfielder's 78th-minute strike cancelled out Lucio Valdez's own goal early in the second half at the Villa Olímpica.

The point keeps Marcelo Bravo's side in the playoff hunt in Zone A of the reserve league, where only the top four teams advance to the quarter-finals. Vélez remain fourth with 17 points, four behind leaders River Plate.

Gordon returns after 243 days

A major positive was the return of Jano Gordon. The 22-year-old forward, who scored twice in the Supercopa Argentina final, played 45 minutes after 243 days out. He came close to marking his return with a goal when a close-range effort cannoned off the crossbar in one of the clearest chances of the match.

The creative work of Benjamín Godoy and Bautista Ramírez was key to generating opportunities. Before the equaliser, a Tomás Nosei header brushed the post and goalkeeper Emanuel Bonda saved attempts from Felipe Pujol and Lautaro Piola. Late on, a move involving Ramírez and the increasingly influential Leandro Mora led to another Piola effort, which set the stage for the leveller.

Reward at the death

Three minutes after that chance, a similar move ended with Centurin showing composure to slot home the decisive 1-1. Theo Bravo, a left midfielder from the Fourth Division, added energy in transition for a side that showed character to fight back.

Coach Marcelo Bravo had to manage the game after the injury-enforced substitution of Lucas Pyziak, who had replaced Gordon. In attack, Ulises Piedrabuena also tested Bonda with a saved shot.

This reserve match contrasts with the first team's recent form in the Liga Profesional, where they are on a run of five games without a win (0W-2D-3L). Their last result was a 2-1 victory over Tigre on October 4th, with goals from Kevin Gutiérrez and Gastón Verón. The next first-team fixture is away to Platense on October 11th.

In the youth divisions, the weekend's balance was mixed. While Vélez's Seventh Division side thrashed their Argentinos counterparts 4-0 with a goal from around 70 metres by goalkeeper Gianni Bornancini, Argentinos' Sixth and Ninth Division teams won 3-2 and 2-1 respectively. Bornancini, who scored that spectacular goal, shared his delight. "I'm very happy for the goal, but more than anything for the team's win against a rival that was top," the goalkeeper said. The reserves' next opponent is Sarmiento de Junín, also on 17 points, next Thursday.

First reported at velez.com.ar