Palermo scores as Boca beat River
Reuters - Monday 16 May 2011, 01:50
BUENOS AIRES - Two mistakes in three
minutes by Argentina goalkeeper Juan Pablo Carrizo handed Boca
Juniors a 2-0 victory over arch-rivals River Plate in the
"Superclasico" at the Bombonera on Sunday.
Veteran striker Martin Palermo scored in his last big derby
to leave River dangerously close to the play-off berths in the
three-season relegation points averages after a third loss in
four matches.
Boca's fifth match without defeat confirmed their recovery
from a poor start to the championship, climbing to eighth with
21 points from 14 matches, one place and one point behind River
in the Clausura standings.
Boca went ahead in the 28th minute when left-back Luciano
Monzon's glancing header from Juan Roman Riquelme's corner to
the near post wrong-footed Carrizo, with the ball bouncing off
his thigh into the net in the 28th minute.
Less than three minutes later, the ball came high into the
River box and Palermo, with Carrizo committing himself
prematurely, headed over the goalkeeper into the net.
The 37-year-old Palermo, Boca's record all-time scorer whose
goal was his fourth in as many games, was substituted 10 minutes
from time to a huge ovation from the Boca faithful as they
chanted his name.
RETIREMENT CLOSE
Palermo, now five matches from his retirement at the end of
the season, took his personal tally against River to 11 in two
spells as a Boca player.
"I said during the week I wanted to give the fans
happiness... there's nothing that can compare with this
'clasico' and I'm thrilled to have scored in my last," Palermo
told Futbol Para Todos.
"Boca's people are unique and happy we've beaten our eternal
rivals," said Riquelme.
River had a chance cleared off the line by Monzon and
another shot from Paraguayan left-back Adalberto Roman well
saved at the near post by goalkeeper Cristian Lucchetti.
River captain Matias Almeyda, who had already been booked,
and Boca defender Clemente Rodriguez were sent off for fighting
in a nervy finish in stoppage-time.
Earlier, title holders Estudiantes were held 2-2 at home by
Tigre to go 11 matches without a victory in the league and South
American Libertadores Cup. They are eight points behind leaders
Velez Sarsfield.
Libertadores Cup quarter-finalists Velez lost 3-2 at Lanus
and had their lead in the standings cut to one point over
second-placed Godoy Cruz, who beat relegation candidates Quilmes
2-0 on Friday. Lanus are third four points behind Velez.