Alvarado reached the Federal A playoff quarter-finals after surviving a night far more dangerous than expected. They lost 2-1 to Sportivo Las Parejas at the José María Minella, finished 2-2 on aggregate and advanced through their sporting advantage. Santiago Gutiérrez's reply, four minutes after the visitors' second goal, prevented an elimination that briefly appeared complete.
The Mar del Plata side were protected by a 1-0 first-leg win in Las Parejas and by their higher regular-season position. That double cushion encouraged a conservative interpretation which Sportivo attacked from the start. Lucas Baldino's team pressed with compact lines, won midfield and forced Alvarado into long passes towards Germán Cervera without sufficient accuracy or support.
Alan Galeano opened the scoring after 29 minutes and changed the emotional equation. Aggregate was 1-1, still sending Alvarado through under the regulations, but the visitors confirmed they had not travelled to complete a formality. Mansilla's absence weakened the home balance, while Pablo Hofstetter and Tomás Federico struggled to connect build-up with attack. Alvarado's unbeaten home record began to lose substance.
The alarm arrived seven minutes into the second half. Emilio Suárez made it 2-0 and, for the first time in the tie, placed Sportivo in the qualifying position. Baldino had his side controlling territory, tempo and second balls. Alvarado required an immediate goal to recover the sporting protection; delaying their reaction would allow the opponents to close spaces and manage what already looked like a decisive blow.
Santiago Gutiérrez responded after 11 minutes. His goal made the match 2-1 and the aggregate 2-2, returning qualification to Torito. The remainder carried a different tension: Sportivo had to score again, while Alvarado needed to avoid anxiety forcing them too close to Emanuel Bilbao. The score remained and the home side progressed with relief rather than authority.
The tie delivers a warning for the next round. Alvarado visit Sarmiento de La Banda on Sunday 8 November at 18:00 with Maximiliano Silcan Jerez refereeing, then close in Mar del Plata with the sporting advantage. Recent experience shows that protection can disappear in one move. Pablo Martel must recover pressing aggression and stronger connections to manage 180 minutes without repeating the suffering.
Sportivo Las Parejas were eliminated, but Lucas Baldino's performance demonstrated the value of a brave, coordinated plan. Alan Galeano and Emilio Suárez brought the club within four minutes of overturning the series; Gutiérrez returned it to the regulatory order. For Alvarado, qualification was the minimum objective. The next step requires converting relief into correction: in La Banda, the advantage matters only if the team play with initiative again.
