Vélez and Estudiantes draw in a boring match

Soccer - Initial tournament

Vélez Sársfield and Estudiantes drew 0-0 in a boring match at the Ciudad de La Plata stadium, while San Martín of San Juan beat defending champions Arsenal de Sarandí 4-0 to win their first game in the championship and cut a run of five straight defeats.

LA PLATA — Vélez Sársfield, who had the chance to reach the top of the standings, only got a 0-0 draw against Estudiantes at the Ciudad de La Plata stadium yesterday in a boring match for the sixth round of the Initial Tournament.

Ricardo Gareca’s team accumulate 11 points and are one behind leaders Boca Juniors, who will face Argentinos Juniors today.

Estudiantes have seven points after two victories, three defeats and one draw.

The hosts finished the game with ten players after Juan Sills was sent off in injury time with a double yellow card.

Earlier, San Martín won their first match in the tournament after thrashing defending champions Arsenal de Sarandí 4-0 at the Ingeniero Hilario Sánchez stadium in San Juan.

The hosts, with Marcelo Vivas as their interim coach, won with goals scored by Emmanuel Más, Mauro Bogado with a penalty, Humberto Osorio and Jorge Luna, also with a penalty.

With the victory they ended a run of five straight defeats and claimed their first points in the competition. Gabriel Perrone will take charge of the team this week before their match against Godoy Cruz in Mendoza.

Arsenal cut a run of 12 games unbeaten and finished the match with nine players after defenders Lisandro López and Diego Braghieri were sent off in the 29th and 72nd minutes respectively. Their last defeat was in the 12th round of the Clausura Tournament at San Lorenzo on April 29.

In another match yesterday, Atlético Rafaela also earned their first victory in the championship after beating All Boys 2-1.

Juan Eluchans with a free kick in the eighth minute and Sebastián Grazzini in the 27th scored for Rubén Forestello’s side, while Mauro Matos netted for the visitors in the 84th.

Rafaela accumulated six points after cutting a run of five games without victories. All Boys also have six.

San Lorenzo and Colón played last night at the Nuevo Gasómetro stadium at press time.

Herald staff with agencies