Argentine Apertura Round 4 Review

Boca Juniors stretched their unbeaten record to 18 games and in the process made a huge statement to the rest of the league by beating a prominent rival by 7 goals to 1. Both Independiente and River got back on track with home victories after last week’s defeats, while Racing remain unbeaten after another away day bore draw. The other team still to be beaten this season are Arsenal who got a credible point at Velez. Estudiantes slipped up at home to Belgrano, Godoy Cruz have one more point from another 0-0 score line but are yet to score unlike Colon who bagged 2 goals against Gimnasia (LP) but remain rooted to the bottom after going down 3-2.

San Lorenzo   1 – 7  Boca Juniors

Boca Juniors sent out a message to all of Argentina on Sunday after their 7-goal massacre of supposed title challengers San Lorenzo. Indeed, San Lorenzo came into the game unbeaten, possessing a possible match winner in star striker Ezequiel Lavezzi. However, the outcome was never in doubt after Rodrigo Palacio had put the visitors ahead. 

The opening goal was contentious though, as Palacio, coming from an offside position, picked up a wayward through ball, before rounding the keeper and dispatching a powerful shot into the roof of the net. From that point on the game became a master class in finishing as the strike duo of Palacio and Palermo took over proceedings – eventually scoring 5 goals between them.

Three minutes after Boca had taken the lead they added another through acting captain (in the absence of Ibarra) Martin Palermo. He had the simple task of sliding in to make it 2-0 after Palacio’s clever dummy from Marino’s low centre. And just 8 minutes later Palermo was again on the score sheet from an almost identical move, although this time Palacio’s touch was not as good, Palermo gobbled up the opportunity all the same.

At half time, Ruggeri’s answer to the Boca onslaught was to bring on new forward signing, Silvera, for his debut but needless to say, his ploy didn’t work. Two minutes after the restart and it was 4-0, Palacio helping himself from close range after Saja had spilled the ball in the six-yard box. That would be the end of Palacio’s goal scoring exploits for the day but he was to have a hand in the remaining goals, as Cardozo exchanged passes with him in the 53rd minute, running from the halfway line, beating two players and finishing right footed across the keeper into the bottom left hand corner for 5-0.

Cardozo was at fault though when San Lorenzo scored their solitary goal of the afternoon, committing a foul that allowed Hirsig to head home from the resulting free kick. However, any hope that San Lorenzo had of saving some pride from the game, quickly disappeared as central defender, Sebastian Mendez, was dismissed for his second yellow card, 11 minutes from time. Boca rubbed more salt into the wounds by adding two more goals before the end, as firstly substitute Franzoia, practically with his first touch of the game, lobbed Saja from outside of the area and then Palermo rounded off the afternoon by stooping in at the back post to complete his hat trick, scoring his 150th goal for Boca in the process.

Ruggeri was left to apologise to the club’s supporters through the media, proclaiming his shame at a result that has left Boca clear at the top of the table and already looking likely to reclaim there title.     

River Plate   2 – 0 Argentinos Juniors

River got back to winning ways, defeating Argentinos Juniors by 2-0, with both goals coming from the boot of Gonzalo Higuain. Higuain, on his return from injury, demonstrated just how important he is to the team by putting in a man-of-the-match performance and providing River with that cutting edge that they’ve been missing in recent weeks.

However, after a goalless first 45 minutes the River supporters were beginning to get impatient, thinking that the opening would never come. In the 53rd minute though they were celebrating as Fernandez, breaking down the right hand side, cut the ball back for the lurking Higuain who finished with aplomb from inside the area. His second followed 17 minutes later, as he seized ruthlessly on an opportunity provided by Ortega. The former Argentine International had hit the bar for a second time in the match after audaciously chipping the goalkeeper with the outside of the boot but this time the rebound fell to the predatory Higuain who volleyed in from close range.

Jorge Quinteros fired another blank for an Argentinos side that have now lost three games on the spin, sinking to 16th in the process. River on the other hand will now turn their attention to the away game at unbeaten Arsenal next Sunday in their quest to close the gap between themselves and their deadly rivals Boca Juniors.        

Estudiantes La Plata 1 – 2  Belgrano de Cordoba

In spite of Juan Sebastian Veron’s beautifully taken opener Diego Simeone’s side succumbed to their first defeat of the season, in turn conceding their first goals – both of which came from free kicks with the latter arriving deep into stoppage time.

The game began as expected with Veron central to everything that Estudiantes created and it was not long before he scored his first goal since returning to Argentine football. Collecting the ball from his own corner, Veron dipped inside two players before hitting a daisy cutter straight into the bottom right hand corner beyond the despairing dive of Montoya. Veron could not hide his delight as he scaled the mesh fencing to rejoice with the home supporters and was lucky not to be shown a red card for his over exuberant celebration by referee Baldassi having already been booked.

If the first half belonged to Estudiantes and Veron then the second was well and truly Belgrano’s and substitute Paolo Frangipane. Entering the fray in the 57th minute he immediately set about making his mark on the game, and it was his free kick that curled beautifully beyond Herrera’s right hand and into the corner after a foul by Veron. From that moment on Belgrano were always the most likely to grab a winner and they eventually did through veteran defender Serrizuela, as his deflected free kick right at the death gave Belgrano their first away win of the season.

Belgrano continued their impressive start to the season, recording their first ever away win against Estudiantes while Diego Simeone’s men must now go to the Bombonera with the daunting prospect of facing a Boca side keen to send their coach out on a high.  

Independiente 2 – 1 Banfield

A game, which saw as many red cards as goals, was settled by two penalties from the cool head of Independiente skipper Daniel Montenegro. His first arrived after only 8 minutes of the game when opposing captain Sanguinetti handled the ball in the area. Montenegro strode up and rifled the ball into the corner of the net, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.

The equalizer was not long in coming though as just 4 minutes later a long throw-in was not dealt with by the Independiente defence and Silva was there to capitalise, turning neatly inside the six-yard box before finishing smartly past Ustari. 
The tide fully turned the way of the visitors when Diaz, recently back from injury, was shown a straight red card for violent conduct after only 17 minutes.

However, the ten men of Independiente not only managed to hold Banfield but also deservedly took the lead through Montenegro’s second penalty of the game. Machin played Denis clean through when Lucchetti brought him down after being outwitted by his clever feet – for the second time in the match Montenegro nonchalantly did the rest.

Banfield pressed the self-destruct button soon after losing the second goal, as first Santana was given his marching orders, receiving his second yellow card of the game and ten minutes later he was joined in the dressing room by Galvan, again after collecting two bookings.

Independiente’s recovery after last week’s defeat to Boca will be tested in Rosario next Saturday as the Red Devils travel to a rejuvenated Rosario Central side. Banfield are still looking for their first victory this season and will face the wrath of an angry San Lorenzo team desperate to avenge their humiliating defeat at the hands of Boca.   

Newell’s Old Boys 0 – 0 Racing Club

For the second consecutive away game, unbeaten Racing proved stubborn opposition, the representation of their attitude being captain and goalkeeper Campagnuolo. His assured performance continued the recent frustrations of Paraguayan strikers Cardozo and Salcedo, who for the second consecutive game failed to hit the target. Their blistering start to life in Argentine football has become all but a distant memory, however, they did at least have the best chances in the game. While Salcedo rattled the bar from distance, Cardozo just missed with a spectacular back heel from inside the six-yard box that went agonisingly wide.

Racing maintained their promising start to the season and now return home to face Lanus while Newell’s, having begun the campaign with six goals in their opening two matches, have not scored since. They travel to struggling Argentinos where they will look to get their season back on track.

Other Results

Lanus 1 – 2 Rosario Central
Velez Sarsfield 0 – 0 Arsenal de Sarandi
Godoy Cruz 0 – 0 Gimnasia y Esgrima de Jujuy
Nueva Chicago 2 – 1 Quilmes
Gimnasia La Plata 3 – 2 Colon de Santa Fe

By Dan Horlock