‘Superclásico’ ends in 2-2 draw

Walter Erviti scored with time almost up yesterday to rescue a 2-2 draw for Boca Juniors against River Plate in their first “Superclásico” in 17 months at the Monumental stadium. The hosts wasted a 2-0 lead.

A goal in added time from Walter Erviti stole a 2-2 draw for Boca Juniors against arch-rivals River Plate in the “Superclásico” yesterday.

The midfielder’s scrambled goal came from a quick break after the Boca defence had blocked a shot at the other end from River captain David Trezeguet, who was attempting to mark his first big Buenos Aires derby with a goal.

“The goal is important because of the difficult times Boca is having,” Erviti told reporters, referring to his team’s poor form with only three points from their last five matches.

A packed Monumental stadium was treated to plenty of excitement but only glimpses of good soccer.

River shocked Boca by scoring from a first-minute free kick and added a superb second goal before Boca hit back twice in the last quarter of an hour.

Midfielder Leonardo Ponzio repeated his trick of River’s previous home match when he hit a right-footed free kick from 30 metres out on the left inside the near post with goalkeeper Agustín Orión reacting too late.

Uruguayan striker Rodrigo Mora, a thorn in the side of Boca’s defence throughout the match, put River two up in the 70th minute with a superb shot from a tight angle on the right.

Five minutes later, though, substitute defender Leandro González Pires gave away a penalty converted by Boca’s Uruguayan striker Santiago Silva.

River had been forced to make two substitutions in the first half after defender Ramiro Funes Mori and midfielder Martín Aguirre both suffered knee ligament damage.

The referee delayed the start of the second half for several minutes until River fans had removed a giant inflatable pig in Boca colours they had paraded at halftime.

Boca have 19 points from 12 matches, three more than River, who hosted the first competitive derby against their arch-rivals in 17 months following their relegation in June 2011. Newell’s Old Boys top the table with 26 points after Saturday’s 2-1 home win over title holders Arsenal in Rosario, where striker Ignacio Scocco scored twice including a brilliant overhead goal.

Also yesterday, Belgrano defeated Unión 1-0 in Córdoba with a goal scored by forward César Pereyra, while Uruguayan playmaker Mario Regueiro netted the winning goal in Lanús’ 1-0 victory over Argentinos Juniors at the Néstor Díaz Pérez stadium.