Last-gasp leveller saves Boca in Superclasico
Reuters - Sunday 28 October 2012, 23:18
A goal in added time from Walter Erviti stole a 2-2 draw for Boca
Juniors against arch-rivals River Plate in a heated Argentine
"Superclasico" that ended with 25 people hurt in crowd violence on
Sunday.
The match started in
party atmosphere at a packed Monumental with the traditional ticker tape
welcome when the players took to the field, but degenerated into
sporadic incidents of violence after the final whistle.
"There
were 25 people hurt but no-one has died," Alberto Crescenti of the
state emergency medical service told sports daily Ole after rumours
circulated that two security guards had been killed in an attack by Boca
fans.
"There is no-one in
critical condition... although some people have been taken to
hospital," added a spokesman for the private firm that provided security
personnel at the giant 1978 World Cup stadium.
River
fans were distraught after Boca avoided what had looked certain defeat
and maintained their bragging rights over their arch-rivals, who were
relegated last year and have not won a derby since November 2010.
Midfielder
Erviti'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 was treated to plenty of excitement but only glimpses of quality football.
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.
REPEAT TRICK
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 Agustin Orion reacting too late.
Nippy
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 Gonzalez 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 Martin 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 half-time.
Boca are
sixth with 19 points from 12 matches, three more points 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.
Newell's were a man short for 30 minutes after former Argentina defender Gabriel Heinze was sent off for a second booking.
Velez
Sarsfield, who beat Racing Club 1-0, are second with 23 points.
Belgrano are third with 22 points after a 1-0 home win over Union in
Cordoba, Racing fourth with 21 and Lanus fifth after beating Argentinos
Juniors 1-0.