Friday 30 October 2009

Primera División de Argentina - week 11

Newell's Old Boys 1-0 Racing Club
Atlético Tucumán 1-2 Vélez Sarsfield
Godoy Cruz 1-2 Estudiantes
Gimnasia La Plata 0-1 Banfield
San Lorenzo 3-2 Arsenal
Huracán 1-0 Rosario Central
Independiente 3-2 Colón
Boca Juniors 3-0 Chacarita Juniors
Lanús 4-0 Tigre
Argentinos Juniors 1-2 River Plate

A midweek round spread over Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday has concertinaed everything together in the Primera Divisíon where three points now covers the top seven places. Heading the lot are Estudiantes, thanks in no small part to Gody Cruz managing to finish with just nine men. Godoy were in front through Cristian Chavez halfway through the first half, but the lead lasted just five minutes before Jorge Curbelo headed past his own keeper from a corner. Seven from time, Godoy allowed a free-kick from the left hand side to drift through a mass of bodies and Leandro Desábato stuck it in at the back post. There was still time for Leonardo Sigali to pick up a second yellow and Carlos Valencia a straight red. Banfield and Newell's are also on 23 points at the top and both were 1-0 winners, Newell's leaving Racing still without a win. The goal came from Juan Insaurralde at the end of the mother and father of all goalmouth scrambles and even the dismissal of Carlos Sanchéz Prette didn't allow Racing back into it. Santiago Silva tops the goalscoring charts after nabbing his tenth of the campaign for Banfield, a towering back-post header enough to see off Gimnasia.

San Lorenzo come next after coming from behind twice to beat Arsenal who were ahead in five minutes through Franco Jara's great run and finish. Diego Rivera equalised within ten with a heavily deflected shot from range, but Cristian Tula restored the lead five minutes after the break with a free header from a corner. Back came Los Azulgrana, Gonzalo Rovira's emphatic finish from the corner of the box squaring things up once again and, two minutes from time, Alejandro Gómez blazed home from outside the box as Arsenal failed to clear a corner. Colón went down to Independiente after the dismissal of Esteban Fuertes ten minutes into the second half. His team were 2-1 down at the time after Nestor Silvera put El Rojo ahead, the first goal in their swanky new stadium, albeit from a suspiciously offside position. Federico Nieto equalised just after the half hour, but Ignacio Piatti sent the home side in in front at the end of a lovely move. A stray elbow saw Fuertes sent to the sheds and Piatti secured the win as he carved the Colón defence wide open and finished in style. Vélez Sársfield needed the latest of late penalties to beat Atlético Tucumán (how late? Try Alex Ferguson late). Rolando Zarate put Vélez ahead with a fine finish from a seemingly impossible angle, but the sides went in level when Javier paez caught the Vélez rearguard sleeping. And that's how it looked to be ending, but four minutes into stoppages, Maxi Moralez fired in the decisive penalty.

Tigre remain bottom after a humping from Lanús. Two down heading to the break, Juan Garat picked up a second yellow and it was one way traffic from then. Sebastien Blanco added a third to Eduardo Salvio and Marcos Aguirre's first half efforts and Santiago Biglieri wrapped it up. Chacarita remain in trouble after a beating from Boca who had it signed and sealed at half-time through Federico Insua and Osvaldo Gaitan with Sebastien Battaglia's second half effort really just rubbing it in. Huracán are still in bother despite winning, Eduardo Dominguez with an early goal which they defended despite losing Pablo Jerez to a 54th minute red card. Finally, River Plate beat Argentinos Juniors to ease themselves away from the danger zone. Goals in each half from Diego Buonanotte and Mauro Rosales ensured that Nestor Ortigoza's last minute penalty didn't really matter.

The next round spreads from Saturday to Tuesday and here's how they line up:

Vélez Sársfield v Godoy Cruz
Racing v Atlético Tucumán
Gimnasia La Plata v San Lorenzo
Chacarita Juniors v Argentinos Juniors
River Plate v Lanús
Rosario Central v Boca Juniors
Arsenal v Independiente
Banfield v Estudiantes La Plata
Tigre v Newell's Old Boys
Colón v Huracán

and we'll have a round-up when the results are all in.

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