The controversy of the end in Boca vs Instituto: was Miguel Merentiel a penalty?

The game that Boca lost 3-2 against Instituto de Córdoba at La Bombonera ended with controversy. In the last play, the locals requested a penalty for an alleged foul by the visiting goalkeeper against Miguel Merentiel. The referee Jorge Baliño reviewed the action in the VAR, but finally did not give the maximum penalty.

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The sequence occurred in injury time. The 50th minute of the match was played when the Gloria goalkeeper, Jorge Carranza, came out to cut a cross. Miguel Merentiel, who was also looking for the ball, fell in the six-yard box, citing an alleged hit with the goalkeeper’s knees.

All Boca claimed a penalty and the referee Jorge Baliño was called from the VAR to go review the play. After a check that lasted a few minutes, he determined that there was no foul on striker Xeneize and continued play.

The judge’s decision unleashed all the wrath of the local players, who saw in this possible penalty a last light of hope to tie the game in an agonizing way.

Finally, the remaining seconds were diluted without much emotion and the Cordovan team took three gold points from La Bombonera.

Boca lost 3-2 with the local Institute. (Photo: Fotobaires)

Boca lost 3-2 at home with Instituto and the confusion grows: it accumulates three games without victories

Boca Juniors lost 3-2 to Instituto de Córdoba and confusion grows among those led by Hugo Ibarra, who added one point from the last nine in the Professional League.

La Gloria was always ahead: Joaquín Varela, Adrián Martínez and Santiago Rodríguez scored the winning goals. The temporary discounts for Xeneize were scored by Martín Payero with a spectacular free kick and Miguel Merentiel.

Boca maintains its line of 11 points in the standings, while Instituto has 13 and got closer to the tournament leader, San Lorenzo, with 16.