Velez keep leaders Estudiantes on leash
Reuters - Monday 06 December 2010, 00:41
BUENOS AIRES - Striker Santiago Silva
scored twice as Velez Sarsfield crushed Godoy Cruz 4-0 away to
keep leaders Estudiantes within their sights in the two-horse
Argentine championship race on Sunday.
Estudiantes, who came from a goal down to beat Clausura
title holders Argentinos Juniors 3-1 at home on Saturday,
remain two points clear of Velez with two matches to go in the
Apertura.
Uruguayan Silva took his tally as the championship's
leading scorer to 11, two more than team mate Juan Manuel
Martinez and Denis Stracqualursi, who scored twice in Tigre's
3-1 win at home to Huracan.
Velez are at home to Huracan, who have lost their last
five matches, on Wednesday when Estudiantes visit
fast-improving River Plate at the Monumental without two key
players, captain Juan Sebastian Veron and winger Enzo Perez.
Both players will be serving suspensions, Perez after he
was banned for two matches following a red card in the 2-1 win
at Independiente last weekend and Veron for accumulating five
bookings with a yellow card on Sunday.
River recovered from falling a goal behind to snatch a
stoppage-time winner through striker Mariano Pavone for a 2-1
away victory over Colon in Santa Fe on Saturday.
They climbed to fourth equal with Racing Club, 11 points
behind Estudiantes, having gone four matches unbeaten since
they beat arch-rivals Boca Juniors in their big derby on November 16.
Racing extended their unbeaten run to seven matches with a
2-0 win over lowly Gimnasia.
The championship ends next weekend when Estudiantes are at
home to third-placed Arsenal and Velez visit Racing Club.