Boca boss Alves on brink of sack
Reuters - Monday 05 April 2010, 02:09
BUENOS AIRES - Boca Juniors coach Able
Alves was in danger of going the same way as San Lorenzo's
Diego Simeone, out of a job after his side lost 2-1 at home to
Rosario Central in the Argentine league.
It was Boca's second successive defeat, and they are two
from bottom with 11 points after 12 matches of the Clausura
championship, 16 points behind leaders Independiente.
Simeone quit as San Lorenzo coach on Saturday after their
1-0 home defeat by Gimnasia-La Plata. San Lorenzo also have 11
points from 12 matches.
Boca's Argentina striker Martin Palermo said everyone at
the club was to blame for the lowest ebb he has seen at the
club, four times South American champions in the last decade,
since his debut in 1997.
"Boca are not used to experiencing this kind of situation,"
he told reporters.
To add to Boca's woes, playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme was
sent off after Central's winning goal four minutes from time,
booked twice in quick succession by referee Rafael Furchi,
apparently for dissent.
The winner was headed in by forward Milton Caraglio after
Boca keeper Javier Garcia was caught stranded off his line
trying to catch a free-kick.
WORST DEFENCE
Riquelme laid on the equaliser on the hour for striker
Nicolas Gaitan after Adrian de Leon had put Central in front
from defender Guillermo Burdisso's header just before halftime.
Boca, who not lost to Central at their Bombonera home since
1990, maintained their record as the worst defence, having
conceded 24 goals at an average of two per game.
Godoy Cruz scored twice in a minute to beat Velez Sarsfield
2-0 at home in Mendoza and keep pace with Independiente, 1-0
winners against Arsenal on Saturday.
Independiente have 27 points from 12 matches and Godoy Cruz
24 with Argentinos Juniors third on 22 after Saturday's 2-1 win
over Chacarita Juniors.
Estudiantes de La Plata, held 1-1 by title holders Banfield
on Sunday, are fourth with 21 points.
Estudiantes lost striker Mauro Boselli, who headed their
goal in the 14th minute, with a leg injury just before the
interval.
He could miss their last Libertadores Cup Group Three match
at home to Alianza Lima on April 20.
Estudiantes goalkeeper Agustin Orion saved a second-half
penalty from Banfield's Uruguay forward Sebastian Fernandez
with the score 1-1 following Marcelo Quinteros's 40th-minute
equaliser.
Estudiantes substitute Enzo Perez was sent off in the 69th
minute, six minutes after coming on, for diving, his second
yellow card offence.
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