The final date for the Professional League Cup did not decide which team would drop a division, leaving an all-or-nothing showdown on the horizon.
The descent stage of the Professional League brought heightened drama. Four matches ran in parallel, each contributing to a suspenseful outcome. In the end, the squad that entered the final round with the tightest path to salvation secured the win it needed, sealing redemption with a victory over Tigre while the teams holding a two-point advantage before the matchday of LPF Cup 14 faltered.
THIS WAS THE PERMANENCE DECIDING MOMENT
TEAMS THAT CONTEST THE DECIDER
Colón and Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata finished the campaign tied on 45 points, which, by the league rules, required them to contest a one-match playoff to determine who would remain in the division.
Colón fell 3-1 to Vélez at the José Amalfitani, while Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata suffered a 2-0 defeat to Banfield at the Estadio Florencio Sola.
WHEN AND WHERE THE DECIDER WILL TAKE PLACE
Even though formal confirmation had not yet been issued, the LPF organization had provisionally set Wednesday the 29th as the reserve date in case a tiebreaker was necessary, with the kick-off time to be announced later.
The match would be held at a neutral venue, with careful consideration given to locating it at a midway point between La Plata and Santa Fe to ensure fairness in travel and logistics.
In the lead-up, both clubs prepared to adapt to the pressure of a do-or-die situation, understanding that everything rested on a single 90-minute battle that would decide which side earned another season in the top flight and which side faced relegation.