Monday 3 May 2010

Estudiantes remain in control

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

Estudiantes remain top of the tree in Argentina after coming from behind to see off ten man Chacarita. Los Funebreros were ahead early on through Omar Zarif, but they were reduced to ten men when Lisandro Lopez was sent off on the half hour. Mauro Boselli equalised with the resultant penalty. Christian Cellay put the leaders ahead moments later and so it remained. Argentinos also came from behind to remain just a point behind thanks to an Ismael Sosa double. Emiliano Alfaro put San Lorenzo in front five before half time, but Sosa turned it round, the second coming a minute from time. San Lorenzo ended with ten men when Damian Martinez was sent off in stoppage time. Those two now have a four-point buffer back to Godoy Cruz who lost ground thanks to Diego Chitzoff's late, late goal which gave Rosario Central a valuable win.

Better news for the traditional giants of the Argentinian game as Boca and River Plate both scored wins. Boca came from behind to beat Independiente who were ahead on the half hour through Ignacio Piatti. Fabian Monzon equalised a couple of minutes later and Martín Palermo sent them into half-time ahead. Pablo Mouche made it three moments before the end, but picked up a second booking for his celebration and was sent off. Leonel Nunez pulled one back in stoppage time, but Boca held on. River also went behind early Ricardo Alvarez putting Vélez ahead inside ten minutes. Paulo Ferrari squared it up on the stroke of half time and the winner came from Diego Buonanotte, back playing after that horrific car crash.

Banfield got back to winning ways with a 1-0 win over Huracán, Maxi Laso with the only goal on the hour. Racing are one of the form sides at the moment and won their fourth straight game away to Tigre. Claudio Bieler put Racing in front, but Tigre were level moments later through Diego Castano. Lucas Aveldano restored the lead just after the half hour mark and that's how it stayed. There were no goals between Gimnasia and Lanús, nor between Colón and Tucumán who hung on for a point despite playing the last twenty minutes a man short, Raul Saavedra seeing red. Newell's beat Arsenal with two first-half goals, Agustin Alayes and Rolando Schiavi on target.

Next week:

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

A win for Estudiantes would heap pressure on Argentinos who would also need to win against fourth-placed Independiente to keep the title challenge alive. Independiente need a win or it's over for them, as it would be for Godoy Cruz. Tucumán need to win to avoid the wooden spoon unless Chacarita also lose, in which case it will go to the final weekend.

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