Banfield B team beaten
Reuters - Monday 08 February 2010, 01:51
BUENOS AIRES - Title holders Banfield
fielded a reserve side and were beaten 2-1 at Chacarita Juniors
in the Argentine Clausura championship on Sunday.
Banfield, who rested most of their first team players ahead
of their opening South American Libertadores Cup match at home
to Mexico's Morelia on Wednesday, went ahead through striker
Cristian Garcia after 10 minutes.
Chacarita hit back with goals from defender Lisandro Lopez,
namesake of the Argentina striker who plays for Olympique Lyon,
and Facundo Parra either side of halftime to boost their
relegation average.
Striker Mauro Boselli and captain Juan Sebastian Veron,
with a brilliant effort, scored first half goals to give
Libertadores Cup holders Estudiantes a 2-0 home win over San
Lorenzo.
Estudiantes, who were at full strength, open their defence
of the South American title at home to Juan Aurich of Peru in
La Plata on Thursday.
River Plate, without former Argentina forward Ariel Ortega
who was dropped for arriving late for their match, were held
0-0 by Rosario Central at their Monumental stadium. They have
taken four points from three matches.
BOCA BEATEN
Their arch-rivals Boca Juniors went three goals down within
18 minutes as they lost 4-2 at Newell's Old Boys in Rosario on
Saturday.
Boca, whose coach Alfio Basile resigned less than two weeks
before the tournament started, picked up four points from their
opening two matches but their ageing defence has now shipped
seven goals in three games.
Strikers Martin Palermo and Lucas Viatri pulled two goals
back before 10-man Newell's, who had defender Agustin Alayes
sent off with 23 minutes to go, scored a fourth through former
Monaco midfielder Lucas Bernardi in stoppage time.
In the pick of Saturday's matches, Argentinos Juniors came
from two down to crush Lanus 6-3 with two goals by striker
Nicolas Pavlovich.
Velez Sarsfield, winners of last year's Clausura in July,
are top with seven points from three matches after Saturday's
2-1 home win over Gimnasia-La Plata.