# 2002–03 Torneo Argentino A

The 2002–03 Argentine Torneo Argentino A was the eighth season of third division professional football in Argentina. A total of 20 teams competed; the champion was promoted to Primera B Nacional.

## Club information
### Zone A

| Club | City | Stadium |
| Aldosivi | Mar del Plata | José María Minella |
| Cipolletti | Cipolletti | La Visera de Cemento |
| Douglas Haig | Pergamino | Miguel Morales |
| Estudiantes | Río Cuarto | Ciudad de Río Cuarto |
| Villa Mitre | Bahía Blanca | El Fortín |

### Zone B

| Club | City | Stadium |
| Independiente | Villa Obrera | La Boutique |
| Independiente Rivadavia | Mendoza | Bautista Gargantini |
| Juventud Alianza | Santa Lucía | Bosque del Bajo Grande |
| Juventud Unida Universitario | San Luis | Mario Diez |
| Luján de Cuyo | Luján de Cuyo | Jardín del Bajo |

### Zone C

| Club | City | Stadium |
| 9 de Julio | Rafaela | El Coloso |
| Ben Hur | Rafaela | Parque Barrio Ilolay |
| General Paz Juniors | Córdoba | General Paz Juniors |
| Racing | Córdoba | Miguel Sancho |
| Tiro Federal | Rosario | Fortín de Ludueña |

### Zone D

| Club | City | Stadium |
| 13 de Junio | Pirané | Pirané |
| Atlético Tucumán | Tucumán | Monumental José Fierro |
| Gimnasia y Tiro | Salta | Gigante del Norte |
| Ñuñorco | Monteros | Ñuñorco |
| Talleres | Perico | Plinio Zabala |

## Apertura 2002
### First stage

In every round the bye team played against the bye team of the other zone: Team from Zone A vs Team from Zone B and Team from Zone C vs Team from Zone D.

#### Zone A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Cipolletti | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 17 | 11 | +6 | 18 | Final Stage |
| 2 | Douglas Haig | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 9 | +3 | 18 | Final Stage |
| 3 | Aldosivi | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 13 | |
| 4 | Villa Mitre | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 15 | 17 | −2 | 13 | |
| 5 | Estudiantes (RC) | 10 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 14 | −4 | 7 | |

#### Zone B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Juventud Unida Universitario | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 11 | +5 | 24 | Final Stage |
| 2 | Independiente Rivadavia | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 13 | +3 | 14 | Final Stage |
| 3 | Luján de Cuyo | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 11 | +5 | 14 | |
| 4 | Independiente (VO) | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 16 | −4 | 9 | |
| 5 | Juventud Alianza | 10 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 12 | 24 | −12 | 7 | |

#### Zone C

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Tiro Federal | 10 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 16 | 10 | +6 | 15 | Final Stage |
| 2 | Racing (C) | 10 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 7 | +1 | 14 | Final Stage |
| 3 | Ben Hur | 10 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 17 | 11 | +6 | 14 | |
| 4 | General Paz Juniors | 10 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 13 | −4 | 11 | |
| 5 | 9 de Julio (R) | 10 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 15 | −5 | 10 | |

#### Zone D

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Ñuñorco | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 17 | 10 | +7 | 21 | Final Stage |
| 2 | Atlético Tucumán | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 20 | 10 | +10 | 15 | Final Stage |
| 3 | 13 de Junio (P) | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 19 | −8 | 14 | |
| 4 | Gimnasia y Tiro | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 14 | −3 | 9 | |
| 5 | Talleres (P) | 10 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 17 | −10 | 7 | |

### Final stage

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| C1 | Tiro Federal | 1 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| D2 | Atlético Tucumán | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| D2 | Atlético Tucumán | 1 | 1 | 2 | C1 | Tiro Federal | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | | | |
| | | | | | C2 | Racing (C) | 0 | 3 | 3 | | | | | |
| D1 | Ñuñorco | 1 | 0 | 1 | C2 | Racing (C) | 0 | 3 | 3 | | | | | |
| C2 | Racing (C) | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| C2 | Racing (C) | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | A2 | Douglas Haig | 0 | 1 | 1 (2) |
| | | | | | | | | | | C2 | Racing (C) (p) | 1 | 0 | 1 (3) |
| B1 | Juv. Unida Universitario | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | C2 | Racing (C) (p) | 1 | 0 | 1 (3) |
| A2 | Douglas Haig | 3 | 0 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| A2 | Douglas Haig | 3 | 0 | 3 | A2 | Douglas Haig | 3 | 2 | 5 | | | | | |
| | | | | | B2 | Independiente Rivadavia | 2 | 1 | 3 | | | | | |
| A1 | Cipolletti | 0 | 1 | 1 | B2 | Independiente Rivadavia | 2 | 1 | 3 | | | | | |
| B2 | Independiente Rivadavia | 4 | 4 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | |
* Note: The team in the first line plays at home the second leg.

## Clausura 2003
### First stage

In every round the bye team played against the bye team of the other zone: Team from Zone A vs Team from Zone B and Team from Zone C vs Team from Zone D.

#### Zone A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Aldosivi | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 21 | 10 | +11 | 21 | Final Stage |
| 2 | Cipolletti | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 27 | 19 | +8 | 17 | Final Stage |
| 3 | Douglas Haig | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 17 | −1 | 15 | |
| 4 | Villa Mitre | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 12 | 19 | −7 | 11 | |
| 5 | Estudiantes (RC) | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 19 | −9 | 10 | |

#### Zone B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Luján de Cuyo | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 7 | +10 | 20 | Final Stage |
| 2 | Juventud Alianza | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 19 | 13 | +6 | 14 | |
| 3 | Independiente Rivadavia | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 19 | 23 | −4 | 13 | Final Stage |
| 4 | Independiente (VO) | 10 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 14 | −5 | 11 | |
| 5 | Juventud Unida Universitario | 10 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 17 | −8 | 4 | |
* ↑ Juventud Alianza was ineligible for the Final Stage, as it was involved in relegation.

#### Zone C

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Tiro Federal | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 25 | 13 | +12 | 20 | Final Stage |
| 2 | Racing (C) | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 14 | 11 | +3 | 17 | Final Stage |
| 3 | Ben Hur | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 18 | 16 | +2 | 13 | |
| 4 | General Paz Juniors | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 14 | 17 | −3 | 13 | |
| 5 | 9 de Julio (R) | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 12 | 23 | −11 | 10 | |

#### Zone D

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Atlético Tucumán | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 18 | 11 | +7 | 16 | Final Stage |
| 2 | Talleres (P) | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 8 | +2 | 16 | Final Stage |
| 3 | Gimnasia y Tiro | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 16 | −3 | 15 | |
| 4 | Ñuñorco | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 16 | −2 | 12 | |
| 5 | 13 de Junio (P) | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 15 | −6 | 10 | |

### Final stage

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| C1 | Tiro Federal | 0 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| D2 | Talleres (P) | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| D2 | Talleres (P) | 0 | 0 | 0 | C1 | Tiro Federal | 1 | 3 | 4 | | | | | |
| | | | | | C2 | Racing (C) | 1 | 2 | 3 | | | | | |
| D1 | Atlético Tucumán | 1 | 2 | 3 (3) | C2 | Racing (C) | 1 | 2 | 3 | | | | | |
| C2 | Racing (C) (p) | 2 | 1 | 3 (5) | | | | | | | | | | |
| C2 | Racing (C) (p) | 2 | 1 | 3 (5) | | | | | | C1 | Tiro Federal | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| | | | | | | | | | | B1 | Luján de Cuyo | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| B1 | Luján de Cuyo | 1 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | B1 | Luján de Cuyo | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| A2 | Cipolletti | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| A2 | Cipolletti | 1 | 0 | 1 | A1 | Aldosivi | 1 | 2 | 3 (3) | | | | | |
| | | | | | B1 | Luján de Cuyo (p) | 2 | 1 | 3 (4) | | | | | |
| A1 | Aldosivi | 2 | 2 | 4 | B1 | Luján de Cuyo (p) | 2 | 1 | 3 (4) | | | | | |
| B2 | Independiente Rivadavia | 2 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
* Note: The team in the first line plays at home the second leg.

## Overall standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Tiro Federal | 20 | 9 | 8 | 3 | 41 | 23 | +18 | 35 | |
| 2 | Cipolletti | 20 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 44 | 30 | +14 | 35 | |
| 3 | Luján de Cuyo | 20 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 33 | 18 | +15 | 34 | |
| 4 | Aldosivi | 20 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 36 | 25 | +11 | 34 | |
| 5 | Ñuñorco | 20 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 31 | 26 | +5 | 33 | |
| 6 | Douglas Haig | 20 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 28 | 26 | +2 | 33 | |
| 7 | Atlético Tucumán | 20 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 38 | 21 | +17 | 31 | |
| 8 | Racing (C) | 20 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 22 | 18 | +4 | 31 | |
| 9 | Juventud Unida Universitario | 20 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 25 | 28 | −3 | 28 | |
| 10 | Ben Hur | 20 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 35 | 27 | +8 | 27 | |
| 11 | Independiente Rivadavia | 20 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 35 | 36 | −1 | 27 | |
| 12 | Gimnasia y Tiro | 20 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 24 | 30 | −6 | 24 | |
| 13 | General Paz Juniors | 20 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 23 | 30 | −7 | 24 | |
| 14 | Villa Mitre | 20 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 27 | 36 | −9 | 24 | |
| 15 | 13 de Junio (P) | 20 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 20 | 34 | −14 | 24 | |
| 16 | Talleres (P) | 20 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 17 | 25 | −8 | 23 | |
| 17 | Juventud Alianza | 20 | 6 | 3 | 11 | 31 | 37 | −6 | 21 | Relegation Playoff |
| 18 | Independiente (VO) | 20 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 21 | 30 | −9 | 20 | Relegation Playoff |
| 19 | 9 de Julio (R) | 20 | 5 | 4 | 11 | 22 | 39 | −17 | 19 | Torneo Argentino B |
| 20 | Estudiantes (RC) | 20 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 20 | 33 | −13 | 17 | Torneo Argentino B |

## Championship final

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Tiro Federal | 2–1 | Racing (C) | 1–1 | 1–0 |

## Promotion/relegation playoff B Nacional-Torneo Argentino A

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| CAI | 4–3 | Racing (C) | 1–1 | 3–2 |
* CAI remained in the Primera B Nacional by winning the playoff.

## Relegation playoff

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Relegation/promotion playoff 1 |||||
| Unión (S) | 6–2 | Juventud Alianza | 5–0 | 1–2 |
| Relegation/promotion playoff 2 |||||
| Gimnasia y Esgrima (M) | 4–3 | Independiente (VO) | 3–1 | 1–2 |
* Unión (S) was promoted to 2003–04 Torneo Argentino A by winning the playoff and Juventud Alianza was relegated to 2003–04 Torneo Argentino B.
* Gimnasia y Esgrima (M) was promoted to 2003–04 Torneo Argentino A by winning the playoff and Independiente (VO) was relegated to 2003–04 Torneo Argentino B.