Sarmiento’s Late VAR Drama Denies Barracas in 1-1 Stalemate

Sarmiento Junin and Barracas Central shared the spoils in a 1-1 Liga Profesional Argentina Clausura thriller packed with VAR drama, disallowed goals and a last-gasp red card reprieve that left both benches exhausted. This was no ordinary mid-table stalemate – it was a 98-minute pressure cooker where justice, injustice and pure chaos collided under the Junín floodlights.

Sarmiento Junin strike early through Rentería

The hosts exploded from the blocks with the hunger of a side desperate to climb away from relegation trouble. After just 14 minutes, Cristian Zabala carved open Barracas’ defence with a razor through ball, and Jhon Rentería – the Colombian livewire making his first start since August – showed ice in his veins to slot past Miño. The Estadio Eva Perón erupted, believing this might finally be their night after five winless matches.

Barracas Central dominate but frustration grows

What followed was a masterclass in controlled possession from Barracas – 72% of the ball, 21 shots to Sarmiento’s 7 – but not in finishing. Rolón and Briasco peppered Ayala’s goal but found the keeper in inspired form, while Orsini’s flicked header crashed against the bar on the stroke of half-time. The visitors’ mounting frustration boiled over when Nicolás Demartini saw yellow for a cynical foul, halting a dangerous counter.

VAR mayhem as Barracas finally break through

The second half became a test of Barracas’ patience versus Sarmiento’s LAST-DITCH defending. Every attack felt inevitable until minute 75, when Yonatthan Rak tumbled under minimal contact. After an interminable VAR check, referee Luis Lobo Medina pointed to the spot – Rodrigo Insua sending Ayala the wrong way to finally reward Barracas’ dominance. The game then descended into pandemonium: Lucas Suárez’s booking for dissent, Junior Marabel’s would-be winner chalked off by VAR for offside, and Suárez initially shown red in the 98th minute before technology intervened again to downgrade it to yellow. The final whistle brought relief more than celebration.

What this result means for both sides

For Sarmiento, this gutsy point – earned despite being outplayed for large spells – gives Facundo Sava’s men something to build on after their early-season struggles. Rentería’s return offers hope upfront. Barracas will rue converting just one of their 2.76 xG; theirs was the story of a team that does everything right until the final touch. With both sides now winless in three, the Clausura’s mid-table logjam tightens further – but nobody in Junín will forget this VAR-fueled rollercoaster in a hurry.

Key Moments

14′ ⚽ Sarmiento Junin — Jhon Rentería (assist: Cristian Exequiel Zabala)

78′ ⚽ Barracas Central — Rodrigo Insua