Riquelme comeback ruined by Argentinos Juniors
Reuters - Sunday 07 November 2010, 02:46
BUENOS AIRES - Title holders Argentinos
Juniors scored twice in the last three minutes to surprise Boca
Juniors 2-0 and spoil playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme's comeback
on Saturday.
The Argentina midfielder made a highly anticipated return
from a six-month knee injury lay-off and might have sparked a
victory at the Bombonera but for good goalkeeping by Nicolas
Navarro.
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The defeat leaves Boca in mid-table, 13 points behind
Apertura championship leaders Estudiantes, who opened a
six-point lead with a 3-0 home win over Lanus on Friday.
Boca and Argentinos, who were coached to the Clausura title
at the end of last season by Claudio Borghi who is now in
charge at Boca, looked set for a share of the points.
However, a corner in the 87th minute was poorly cleared by
the Boca defence and Argentinos defender Santiago Gentiletti
swivelled and pounced to shoot the loose ball into the net.
Two minutes later in a counter-attack, Boca goalkeeper
Cristian Lucchetti failed to hold substitute Andres Romero's
shot and striker Ciro Rius netted the rebound to put the match
beyond the home team.
Riquelme, sorely missed by Boca this season, was the best
player on the pitch as he engineered what chances the home side
had earlier in the match including curling a corner from the
left onto the bar.
Striker Martin Palermo brought a diving save from Navarro
with a strong header from Riquelme's corner and the playmaker,
who had knee surgery in May, had a shot from the edge of the
box turned over the bar.
Boca's next match is Argentina's biggest derby, the
"superclasico" away to arch-rivals River Plate at the
Monumental on November 16. River are away to All Boys on Sunday
looking to improve their poor relegation average (taken over
three seasons).
Argentinos, improving under coach Pedro Troglio after
failing to win in their opening seven matches, are one point
behind Boca.
Estudiantes are six points ahead of Arsenal, who drew 2-2
at Racing Club and Velez Sarsfield.
Newell's Old Boys are fourth after a 0-0 draw away to Godoy
Cruz in Mendoza.