Nine-man Independiente go three clear
Reuters - Sunday 28 March 2010, 22:57
BUENOS AIRES - Three players were sent
off as nine-man Independiente held on for a 1-1 draw at Colon to
open a three-point lead in Argentina's Clausura championship on
Sunday.
Independiente, who have 24 points after 11 matches, went
ahead with a shot from 40 metres by Lionel Nunez in the ninth
minute.
Colon's veteran striker Esteban Fuertes equalised with a
header in the 20th as Independiente goalkeeper Adrian Gabbarini
conceded his first goal in six matches.
Independiente centre-back Leonel Galeano was sent off after
half an hour for bringing down an opponent on the edge of the
box, leading to a defensive reshuffle by coach Americo Gallego
with striker Nunez coming off.
Colon's Marcelo Goux was dismissed a minute after halftime
and Independiente captain Dario Gandin left his team with nine
men in the 73rd when he was shown the red card after a second
booking for pulling back an opponent by his shirt.
Second-placed Godoy Cruz were beaten 2-1 by Estudiantes, who
are third a point further back, on Friday.
Boca Juniors, three days after the joy of beating
arch-rivals River Plate 2-0, were stunned 4-1 by Chacarita
Juniors.
Chacarita gave debutant coach Mauro Navas a perfect start
after he replaced Fernando Gamboa, who was sacked last weekend
following four defeats in a row.
They recovered from a first half deficit after Matias
Gimenez scored for Boca from Juan Roman Riquelme's fine through
ball into the middle of the box.
PALERMO ANGER
Striker Facundo Parra scored twice, equalising two minutes
into the second half and making it 3-1 in the 81st when he
deftly beat the offside trap to race through and steer the ball
past keeper Javier Garcia.
In between, Parra had a 56th-minute penalty saved by Garcia
only for Nicolas Ramirez to head in the rebound. Boca's Ezequiel
Munoz was sent off for the foul that led to the penalty.
The icing on the cake for Chacarita, playing with ever
increasing confidence against a listless Boca, came in the 87th
minute with substitute Sebastian Sciorilli's superb lob from the
edge of the box over Garcia and into the top far corner.
Sciorilli's joy was tempered by a booking for taking off his
shirt to celebrate that led to a red card in stoppage time for
tripping an opponent.
Boca striker Martin Palermo did not disguise his annoyance
at being substituted 20 minutes from time by coach Abel Alves,
whose respite from criticism with the win over River has quickly
dissipated.
"Why are you taking me off if we're losing?" an angry
Palermo was quoted as saying to Alves by the sports daily Ole on
its website.
Boca, who had not lost to Chacarita for 10 years, have gone
11 away matches without winning and are the team with most goals
conceded in the championship, 22 in 11 matches. They are two
from bottom with 11 points.
Title holders Banfield came from behind to beat Gimnasia 3-2
in La Plata on Saturday with two goals from striker Ruben
Ramirez and a 73rd-minute winner by Uruguay's Sebastian
Fernandez.
Racing Club recovered from two successive defeats to beat
Newell's Old Boys 1-0 at home, while Rosario Central coach Ariel
Cuffaro Russo resigned after Friday's 2-0 defeat at home by
Huracan.
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