Aldosivi ended Israel Damonte's spell after Copa Argentina elimination
Israel Damonte's spell at Aldosivi came to an end after the loss to Independiente Rivadavia in the Copa Argentina. El Tiburón was left shaken on the sporting side, with the relegation battle getting ever closer.
Aldosivi made a big decision in the middle of a very poor campaign: Israel Damonte is no longer the coach of the Mar del Plata side. His departure comes after the elimination in Copa Argentina against Independiente Rivadavia, at a time when the club remains mired in the fight to avoid relegation.
The news lands as another blow in a season that has offered no respite for Tiburón. And it also leaves behind a telling stat: Damonte's only win in charge had been the 3-1 against River in the round of 16 of the Copa Argentina, a huge joy at the time, but an isolated one in an otherwise very poor run.
Copa Argentina, the last great joy
The Copa Argentina once again showed its cruelest side. For Aldosivi, the tournament left behind a snapshot that now reads differently: that win against River ended up being the exception, not the rule. After that upset, the team failed to sustain the momentum and was eventually knocked out by Independiente Rivadavia.
That ending sped everything up. At a club with constant urgencies, the elimination was the trigger to bring the coach's spell to an end. There was no room to stretch things out any longer.
A battered club running on empty
Damonte's departure cannot be separated from Aldosivi's overall present. The context is clear: the team is on the brink of relegation and the campaign has been disastrous. In that scenario, any major setback becomes a death sentence.
Damonte's stint was brief and brought more blows than answers. The balance sheet was marked by:
- Just one official win, the aforementioned one against River.
- The elimination in Copa Argentina against Independiente Rivadavia.
- A campaign that left the Mar del Plata club in a desperate situation.
You do not need much more to understand why the board decided to cut ties. In a semester like this, the bench is never secure.
The cup picture for Argentine sides
While Aldosivi closed a bitter chapter, the schedule for Argentine clubs in domestic and international competitions keeps moving. The Copa Argentina is entering its final stretch and already has seven teams in the quarterfinals, awaiting the winner of the clash between Boca and Vélez.
In addition, the week brought another major update: the schedule for the quarterfinals of the Copa Libertadores and the Copa Sudamericana was confirmed. That calendar features three Argentine sides with major fixtures ahead:
- Boca will open its tie against São Paulo on 8 de septiembre at the Bombonera.
- Estudiantes will host Corinthians one day later in La Plata.
- Platense will try to pull off an upset against Fluminense, the reigning champion of America.
A scenario that gives no break
The big picture is clear: the calendar is tightening, margins are minimal and every elimination can be costly. Aldosivi has felt that first-hand. And the Copa Argentina, which so often opens unexpected paths, this time left more pain than hope in Mar del Plata.
In a season that spares no one, Damonte's ending at Tiburón is another sign of crisis. And also a reminder: in Argentine football, when results do not come, everything speeds up.
