Monday, September 3, 2012

Viatri’s goals put Boca Juniors at the top

River Plate draw 1-1 with Colón; Independiente lose in Gallego’s debut

Soccer — Initial tournament

Boca Juniors reached the top of the standings after beating Atlético Rafaela 2-1 with both goals scored by striker Lucas Viatri. River Plate and Colón drew 1-1 in Santa Fe, while Independiente lost 2-1 against Godoy Cruz in Américo Gallego’s debut as their coach.

Boca Juniors had a poor performance, but two headers by Lucas Viatri were enough for them to beat Atlético Rafaela 2-1 and take the lead of the Initial Tournament standings.

The striker scored his first goal in the 25th minute and gave Boca the victory in the 69th. Midfielder Sebastián Carrera netted for Rafaela in the 65th.

Boca played as the hosts at Vélez Sársfield’s José Amalfitani stadium because La Bombonera was suspended for one round for the incidents in the South American Cup.

Julio Falcioni’s team won their fourth straight game after their disappointing 3-0 defeat against newly promoted Quilmes in the first round. They accumulated 12 points.

Rafaela were beaten for a second time and have not won in the tournament yet.

Also yesterday, River Plate drew 1-1 with Colón at the General Brigadier Estanislao López stadium in Santa Fe.

Striker Rubén Ramírez sent the ball home with a header in the 69th to put the hosts ahead, but Germán Pezzella saved the match for River with his goal two minutes before the end of the match.

Colón have 11 points and share the second place with Newell’s Old Boys and Arsenal de Sarandí.

Independiente lost 2-1 against Godoy Cruz at the Malvinas Argentinas stadium in Mendoza in the debut of Américo Gallego as their coach. The team from Avellaneda took the lead in the 35th minute with a header by defender Cristian Tula, but playmaker David Ramírez equalized before the end of the first half.

In the second minute of injury time, referee Sergio Pezzotta marked a penalty for the hosts which Ramírez scored. Independiente have not won in the tournament yet and are in the relegation zone.

Earlier, Tigre and San Lorenzo drew 1-1 at the Monumental de Victoria stadium.

Defensive midfielder Diego Castaño put the hosts ahead in the 18th with a header and midfielder Luis Aguiar equalized the match for San Lorenzo five minutes later.

Both teams finished the game with ten players. Castaño and forward Franco Jara were sent off in the 51st and 63rd, respectively.

On Saturday, Vélez defeated Belgrano 2-1 at the José Amalfitani. Captain Fabián Cubero scored for the hosts with a header in the 31st, but defensive midfielder Martín Zapata equalized a minute later. Belgrano’s defender Sergio Rodríguez made an own goal in the 70th to give Vélez the victory.

Herald staff with agencies