Argentine Apertura Round 3 Review

Boca, Estudiantes and Arsenal maintained their 100% records in the third fixture of the season while Racing and San Lorenzo also remain unbeaten. Velez scored their first victory by beating Argentinos but River and Newell´s faltered again. Gimnasia (J) broke their goal-scoring duck by putting three past the other Gimnasia (LP) and as a result left Godoy Cruz as the only side without a goal this season but they do at least have a point, unlike Colon who are still rooted to the bottom.

Boca Juniors 1-0 Independiente

The magnitude of this game was summed-up by the presence of World Cup final referee, Horacio Elizondo. However, he was a largely peripheral figure, as the home side comfortably maintained their 100% record this season, and increased their unbeaten run to an impressive 17 games.

The only goal of the match came from the head of Matias Silvestre in the 36th minute. Marino took the in-swinging corner from the left and as Silvestre arrived late into the box he was able to plant a firm header over the despairing goalkeeper. Ustari´s positioning was questionable but ultimately it was the power of the header which was his undoing.

In a first half completely dominated by Boca, it was easy to see why they are again red-hot favourites to regain their title, as pretenders to the throne, Independiente, could barely muster a shot on goal against the meanest defence in the division. 

1-0 down at half time, having not registered a serious attempt on goal and in the hostile environment of the Bombonera it would have been easy for Independiente to fold. Instead they showed real character, playing themselves back into the match, as Montenegro, Denis, Carrizo and Rodriguez all had half chances to bring the Red Devils level.

Playmaker Montenegro was at the heart of Independiente´s attacking invention and it was he who came closest for the visitors, flashing a left-footed half volley just past the goalkeeper´s right hand post.

However, the majority of Independiente´s attacks were thwarted by the outstanding Daniel Diaz, as time and again the big centre-back was there to snuff out the danger.

Carvoso should have made sure of the result late on after being put clean through by Gago but he squandered the opportunity, hitting it straight at Ustari.

Boca now travel to San Lorenzo, as league leaders and with their 100% record intact. In contrast, Independiente must re-group as they are on the road again, visiting Banfield.

Racing Club 3-1 River Plate

In the grudge match between former River Plate coach Reinaldo Merlo and current River Plate captain Marcelo Gallardo, the Racing maestro emerged victorious, as his team ran out 3-1 winners. In contrast, Gallardo was sent from the field in disgrace 3 minutes into injury time after a miserable performance, becoming the second River player of the afternoon to be red-carded.

Racing began the encounter with real purpose and opened the scoring with just 8 minutes on the clock. The former Inter Milan and Ipswich Town midfielder Sixto Peralta put Gonzalo Bergessio through on goal and he kept his composure to clinically dink the ball past the on-rushing Carrizo, sending the majority of the 45,000 spectators in the stadium into raptures of delight. 

However, it was not long before they were brought down to earth by Ariel Ortega. Mareque put in a perfect left wing-cross which Ortega rose to meet at the near post. His flicked header beat the stranded Campagnuolo and put River back on level terms 36 minutes into the match. It was Ortega´s first goal since his return from Newell´s Old Boy´s and his adoring public duly acknowledged the River hero by celebrating widely with him behind the goal.

But, as River began to think of half-time, they were hit by a wonderfully crafted team goal, Facundo Sava concluding a move that owed much to the ingenuity and skill of his strike partner, Gonzalo Bergessio. Bergessio had previously beaten two men, exchanging a one-two with the outstanding Peralta before eventually sliding the ball across to Sava, who had the simple task of tapping the ball into the net.

17 minutes into the second half and Racing went 3-1 to the good after an audacious lob by central midfielder Bastia. Combining with Peralta on the edge of the box Bastia delicately lifted the ball over the stranded Carizzo, giving Racing what would prove to be an unassailable lead.

And as the game began to ebb away from River, they started to lose their heads. First Nasutti was dismissed for a second yellow card, elbowing Bergessio in the face after he had already received a booking for a cynical foul on the same player. And then Gallardo capped off his disappointing afternoon by catching Racing substitute, Francisco Maciel late, to earn his second yellow card of the game.

Racing will now be looking to take their home form into their next game away at Newell´s Old Boy´s. River´s problems are mounting as they lost further ground on the leaders and will be without their suspended captain Marcelo Gallardo for Sunday´s home game against Argentinos Juniors.  

Colon de Santa Fe 0-2 Estudiantes La Plata

Juan Sebastián Veron conjured up another magical performance on Sunday, as the ´Little Witch´ condemned Colon to a third successive defeat, and in the process sent Estudiantes to the top of the Primera Division.

Diego Simeone´s side began the scoring in the 27th minute when Estudiantes were awarded a dubious penalty after Pavone went down theatrically after a challenge by Piccoli. Pavone duly picked himself up and finished with aplomb from the resulting spot-kick, sending the keeper the wrong way.

Colon´s best chance of the match fell to midfielder Chitzoff but he wasted his chance by hurriedly slamming the ball into the side-netting. His lack of composure was mirrored by team mate Jose Sand in the 41st minute, as the Colon centre-forward reacted under provocation from the Estudiantes defenders and received a straight red card for his trouble.

The second-half was orchestrated by the masterful Veron, as Estudiantes went in search of a second goal to kill off the hosts. They had to wait until the 81st minute to assure themselves of victory though, as Pavone scored both his and Estudiantes´s second of the match finishing from 3 yards out after some good work down the right from Sosa.

Pavone has now scored 3 goals in as many games and is undoubtedly benefiting from the recent arrival of playmaker Juan Sebastian Veron. A victory at home next week against newly promoted Belgrano will set-up an intriguing game with the only other club to have won all three of their opening fixtures, reigning champions Boca Juniors.

Colon travel to Gimnasia (LP) in the midst of their worst run (10 consecutive defeats) in the Primera Division. A fourth defeat of the season will probably mean the end of Julio Cesar Toresani´s stint as coach.   

Belgrano de Cordoba 2-2 San Lorenzo

Ezequiel Lavezzi ensured that San Lorenzo left the Olympic Stadium in Cordoba with a share of the points on Friday night. Scoring his second goal in as many games, Lavezzi was the dominant figure throughout the game, giving Belgrano´s central defensive partnership of Caceres and in particular, captain Franco Peppino, a constant headache.

Indeed, it was Peppino´s mistake that allowed Lavezzi to level matters up, as after robbing Peppino of possession, he cut inside two more defenders before burying a right footed shot in off the post and past the despairing dive of Montoya.

The game had started at a frenetic pace, as Belgrano found themselves two goals to the good after only 9 minutes. First Gigli made the most of some unsure defending by finishing from close range after the ball had broken back to him and then Arriola, chosen ahead of Moisela on the left hand side of midfield, broke from deep, leaving central defender Mendez for dead, before clinically dispatching the ball past Saja in the San Lorenzo goal.

Arriola´s goal, rather than settle the Belgrano players nerves, did quite the opposite, as within two minutes, Quatrocchi, up from the back, stooped to head San Lorenzo back into the match. The momentum had swung entirely in favour of San Lorenzo and after Peppino had dawdled on the ball for too long, Lavezzi duly showed him no mercy to level the scores at 2-2 after only 17 minutes.

The match continued in this end to end style until the final whistle but there were to be no further goals. The final chance falling to San Lorenzo substitute Botero, who, with the ball slightly behind him, conspired to head wide with the goal gaping. This was again, after Lavezzi´s good work had set him up.

As San Lorenzo lost their 100% record they will now prepare for the visit of champions, Boca Juniors next Sunday. Belgrano maintained their unbeaten home record and will be the happier of the two sides. They travel for a difficult away game to Diego Simeone´s unbeaten Estudiantes.

Newell´s Old Boys 0-1 Lanus

In the most surprising score line of the weekend, Lanus successfully blunted the previously prolific Paraguayan strike-force of Salcedo and Cardozo, snatching all three points in the process.

The goal came in the 36th minute of the first half as man-of-the-match, Marcos Aguirre punished Newell´s wayward finishing by getting on the end of a left-wing cross, to head the ball firmly into the ground and over the outstretched arm of Justo Villar.

In the second half, Lanus had two key opportunities to put the game beyond doubt as first Graf cracked the outside of the post with a vicious volley and then 10 minutes later Biglieri chose to shoot from an impossible angle when he had better placed colleagues waiting for a square pass in the middle.

In the end though, Lanus comfortably held out to record their first victory of the season and now return home to face Rosario Central. Newell´s will look to bounce back, hosting an inform Racing side but they will have serious concerns regarding the way that Salcedo and Cardozo were so effectively shut out by the Lanus defensive pairing of Romero and Ribonetto.

Other results:

Banfield 1-1 Rosario Central
Arsenal de Sarandi 2-0 Nueva Chicago
Gimnasia (J) 3-1 Gimnasia (LP)
Quilmes 0-0 Godoy Cruz
Argentinos Juniors 0-1 Velez Sarsfield

By Dan Horlock