Talleres wins at Defensa with Maidana brace

Paraguayan defender Alexandro Maidana scored twice as Talleres Cordoba edged to a 2-1 away win over Defensa y Justicia in Argentina's Apertura tournament on Monday.

Maidana put his side ahead in the 15th minute when he controlled a loose ball with his chest before firing a left-footed effort into the far corner.

The 20-year-old made it 2-0 just after the hour with a first-time shot that rebounded in off the post after Franco Cristaldo's layoff.

Ayrton Portillo pulled a goal back for the hosts after intercepting a clearance and calmly finishing into the bottom-left corner. But Talleres held on to secure its sixth win of the campaign so far.

"We played a great game and the three points put us in a good position," Maidana said. "The first goal in particular was important because it put us on track for the rest of the match."

The result leaves Talleres fifth in the 15-team Group A standings with 21 points, two ahead of seventh-placed Defensa y Justicia.

Elsewhere in Argentina's top flight on Monday, Gimnasia La Plata won 2-1 at Sarmiento, Lanus edged to a 1-0 home victory over Banfield and Velez Sarsfield won 1-0 at home to Central Cordoba.