River win, Boca lose ahead of Superclasico
Reuters - Monday 15 March 2010, 03:21
BUENOS AIRES - A week before Argentine
soccer's "Superclasico", giants Boca Juniors were humiliated
3-0 by Tigre while arch-rivals River Plate beat Huracan 2-0 in
the Clausura championship on Sunday.
Boca, who have conceded more goals than any other team in
the Clausura championship at an average of two a game, were
eclipsed by a Carlos Luna hat-trick.
"I'm not being taken out of here even (if I'm) dead," said
defiant Boca coach Abel Alves, whose team have gone seven
matches without a win and lost their last two.
"The match with River is for us to resurface. We can't go
any lower," he told a news conference.
Luna struck his first in the 10th minute, headed his second
just before half time and placed his third well clear of keeper
Javier Garcia's dive 13 minutes from time.
Boca striker Lucas Viatri could have pulled one back in the
final minutes but his two efforts in a single attack came back
off the woodwork.
River notched their third win to give themselves the
perfect boost for the visit to Boca's Bombonera (Chocolate box)
cauldron next Sunday.
"There was a lot at stake. We had to win whatever way
possible," said River Plate captain Marcelo Gallardo.
River struck inside two minutes when Huracan goalkeeper
Gaston Monzon fumbled a shot and in the ensuing goalmouth melee
the ball went in off defender Ezequiel Filipetto.
Midfielder Gustavo Canales scored the second in the 76th
minute when he stole in behind a defender to head home left
back Juan Manuel Diaz's shoulder high cross to the near post.
Independiente, the only member of Argentina's "Big Five"
clubs in the top half of the 20-team standings, are top with 20
points after nine matches.
River are 11th with 12 points, Racing Club and San Lorenzo
are 14th and 15th with 10 apiece and Boca 17th with eight.
Diego Simeone's San Lorenzo lost 1-0 at Rosario Central
while Racing, with Roberto Ayala back in defence, were beaten
1-0 at home by Argentinos Juniors after their captain Claudio
Yacob had a last-minute penalty saved.
Follow FFT.com on Twitter
Join FFT.com on Facebook