BUENOS AIRES (Interstat) — Ronaldo Martinez scored twice for Velez Sarsfield, but Platense answered each time and earned a 2-2 draw Monday at Estadio José Amalfitani in Capital Federal, Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Velez Sarsfield was the home side, while Platense was the visitor. The four-goal match featured two goals from Martinez, one from Bautista Merlini and a late equalizer from Franco Zapiola. Augustin Lagos and Simon Escobar each recorded an assist.

Martinez finished with two goals over 90 minutes. Merlini played 65 minutes and scored once. Zapiola played 25 minutes and scored once. Lagos registered one assist, and Escobar had one assist in 76 minutes. Both sides scored in the first half and again in the second half. The goals came in the 5th, 7th, 54th and 88th minutes. Martinez scored in the 5th and 54th minutes for Velez Sarsfield.

Velez Sarsfield opened the scoring in the 5th minute when Martinez found the net. The lead lasted only two minutes. Platense responded in the 7th minute through Merlini, whose goal leveled the match at 1-1. Both goals came in the first seven minutes. The next goal came in the 54th minute. Velez Sarsfield continued to press after the equalizer, but Platense held its shape and kept the match level into the second half.

Velez Sarsfield led 1-0 after five minutes, but Platense equalized in the seventh. The teams went to halftime level at 1-1. Martinez’s second goal in the 54th minute made it 2-1, and that score held until the closing minutes. Zapiola’s 88th-minute goal made it 2-2.

Martinez restored Velez Sarsfield’s advantage in the 54th minute with his second goal. Escobar, who played 76 minutes, recorded an assist on the night. Velez Sarsfield held that lead into the late stages, while Platense pushed forward in search of another equalizer. The final goal came in the 88th minute.

Platense found it when Zapiola scored. Zapiola played 25 minutes as a substitute and scored once. Lagos supplied the assist, helping Platense secure the draw. The goal came after a period in which Platense had to manage the closing minutes and chase the equalizer. The match ended 2-2.

Platense received two late yellow cards. T. Silva was cautioned in the 79th minute, and I. Gomez was booked in the 84th minute. The cards came as the visitors pushed for a late goal and the match moved into its final stretch. Velez Sarsfield also made early changes, with M. Lanzini involved in a substitution in the 9th minute and J. Policella in the 14th minute. T. Aguirre followed in the 71st minute.

Platense made substitutions involving Merlini, G. Mainero and M. Amarfil in the 65th minute. B. Sepulveda entered the substitution sequence in the 71st minute, and K. Retamar followed in the 89th minute. Those changes were among eight substitutions listed in the match.

Platense’s record in the competition is now 0 wins, 0 losses and 1 draw. Its record across all competitions is 1 win, 0 losses and 1 draw. Velez Sarsfield’s competition record is 0 wins, 0 losses and 1 draw, and its overall record is 0 wins, 0 losses and 1 draw. Platense entered the match after a 1-0 win over Estudiantes L.P. in its previous outing this season. The draw left both teams still searching for their first competition win of the season.

Before the match, Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Velez Sarsfield 2, Platense 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Velez Sarsfield with a 75.8 percent probability to win. The projection favored Velez Sarsfield before kickoff.