Boca Juniors moved within a point of the Argentine Apertura championship after defeating Godoy Cruz on Sunday.
Boca Juniors, Argentina's most popular club, are just a step away from clinching the Argentine Apertura championship, after defeating Godoy Cruz 2-1 in Mendoza on Sunday. Everything indicates that Boca, with 36 points, will win their 24th national championship next weekend as they only need a draw at the Bombonera stadium against a Banfield side who are stranded at the bottom of the table.
With the title practically decided in Boca's favour with three rounds still to play in the Apertura, the race for the two remaining Copa Libertadores berths is still alive. With Boca, Velez Sarsfield and Arsenal de Sarandi already assured of a place in South America's biggest club competition next year, two more places are up for grabs, with Lanus and Godoy Cruz occupying those slots at the moment.
Racing Club kissed goodbye to their title chances, after being on the wrong end of a 3-2 defeat to Belgrano de Cordoba at the Cilindro de Avellanda stadium.
Cesar Pereyra gave Belgrano a shock lead in the 31st minute, before Gaston Turus added their second four minutes later, to the dismay of the home fans. Racing, who needed a win at all costs, hit back two minutes later through Colombian international Giovanni Moreno. But on the stroke of half-time Pereyra appeared once again to give Belgrano a healthy advantage entering the break.
In the second half, Racing piled heavy pressure on the visitors, but they were continually kept out by the expertise of Juan Carlos Olave. The Belgrano goalkeeper made several fine saves.
After much pressure, Valentin Viola finally pulled a goal back for Racing in the 67th minute, and although they had plenty of time to force a draw, they ended up sinking to their first defeat of the season.
Playmaker Juan Sebastian Veron, who will retire at the end of the season, scored ten minutes from full-time as Estudiantes de La Plata rallied to beat Arsenal de Sarandi 2-1 at the Julio H. Grondona stadium.
Arsenal, who have already assured themselves of a place in the 2012 Copa Libertadores, went ahead through Mauro Obolo in the 21st minute, but Gaston Fernandez drew the visitors level ten minutes into the second half.
Veron handed Estudiantes the three points in the 80th minute, when his free-kick beat the wall before creeping into the back of the net. The win, Estudiantes' third of the season, allowed them to climb from the bottom of the table at the expense of Banfield.
Velez Sarsfield were held to a 1-1 draw by Colon de Santa Fe at the Jose Amalfitani stadium. Ricardo Gareca decided to field a second-string side, due to Velez's Copa Sudamericana semi-final against Liga de Quito of Ecuador mid-week.
Despite this, Velez dominated their opponents in the opening minutes of the match and went ahead in the 20th minute through midfielder Leandro Sebastian Velazquez.
However, Colon drew level in the 46th minute, when Uruguayan striker Javier Ernesto Chevanton curled in a spectacular free-kick. Both teams had chances to win the game in the second half, but ended up settling for a point each.
Boca Juniors moved within a single point from the Apertura championship after defeating Godoy Cruz 2-1 at the Malvinas Argentinas stadium. By managing a single point from their final three matches of the season, Boca will clinch the championship.
Striker Dario Cvitanich put Boca ahead in the 9th minute, and in the 36th minute veteran Rolando Schiavi doubled Boca's lead via the penalty spot. In the second period Boca continued to dominate their opponents, with crisp passing in the midfield, that allowed them to progress up the field with swift attacks.
Godoy Cruz, who needed a win to move closer towards qualification for the 2012 Copa Libertadores, never dropped their arms as they searched for a goal. Ariel Rojas pulled a goal back for them four minutes from full-time with a sensational long-range thunderbolt, however, the goal arrived much too late.
Argentine Apertura - Round 16 Results
November 25
Tigre 3 - 0 Atl. Rafaela
November 26
All Boys 0 - 0 Lanus
Newell's Old Boys 0 - 0 San Lorenzo
Racing Club 2 - 3 Belgrano
Olimpo 0 - 3 San Martin San Juan
November 27
Arsenal 1 - 2 Estudiantes
Velez Sarsfield 1 - 1 Colon
Banfield 2 - 2 Argentinos Juniors
Godoy Cruz 1 - 2 Boca Juniors
November 28
Union - Independiente
With the title practically decided in Boca's favour with three rounds still to play in the Apertura, the race for the two remaining Copa Libertadores berths is still alive. With Boca, Velez Sarsfield and Arsenal de Sarandi already assured of a place in South America's biggest club competition next year, two more places are up for grabs, with Lanus and Godoy Cruz occupying those slots at the moment.
Racing Club kissed goodbye to their title chances, after being on the wrong end of a 3-2 defeat to Belgrano de Cordoba at the Cilindro de Avellanda stadium.
Cesar Pereyra gave Belgrano a shock lead in the 31st minute, before Gaston Turus added their second four minutes later, to the dismay of the home fans. Racing, who needed a win at all costs, hit back two minutes later through Colombian international Giovanni Moreno. But on the stroke of half-time Pereyra appeared once again to give Belgrano a healthy advantage entering the break.
In the second half, Racing piled heavy pressure on the visitors, but they were continually kept out by the expertise of Juan Carlos Olave. The Belgrano goalkeeper made several fine saves.
After much pressure, Valentin Viola finally pulled a goal back for Racing in the 67th minute, and although they had plenty of time to force a draw, they ended up sinking to their first defeat of the season.
Playmaker Juan Sebastian Veron, who will retire at the end of the season, scored ten minutes from full-time as Estudiantes de La Plata rallied to beat Arsenal de Sarandi 2-1 at the Julio H. Grondona stadium.
Arsenal, who have already assured themselves of a place in the 2012 Copa Libertadores, went ahead through Mauro Obolo in the 21st minute, but Gaston Fernandez drew the visitors level ten minutes into the second half.
Veron handed Estudiantes the three points in the 80th minute, when his free-kick beat the wall before creeping into the back of the net. The win, Estudiantes' third of the season, allowed them to climb from the bottom of the table at the expense of Banfield.
Velez Sarsfield were held to a 1-1 draw by Colon de Santa Fe at the Jose Amalfitani stadium. Ricardo Gareca decided to field a second-string side, due to Velez's Copa Sudamericana semi-final against Liga de Quito of Ecuador mid-week.
Despite this, Velez dominated their opponents in the opening minutes of the match and went ahead in the 20th minute through midfielder Leandro Sebastian Velazquez.
However, Colon drew level in the 46th minute, when Uruguayan striker Javier Ernesto Chevanton curled in a spectacular free-kick. Both teams had chances to win the game in the second half, but ended up settling for a point each.
Boca Juniors moved within a single point from the Apertura championship after defeating Godoy Cruz 2-1 at the Malvinas Argentinas stadium. By managing a single point from their final three matches of the season, Boca will clinch the championship.
Striker Dario Cvitanich put Boca ahead in the 9th minute, and in the 36th minute veteran Rolando Schiavi doubled Boca's lead via the penalty spot. In the second period Boca continued to dominate their opponents, with crisp passing in the midfield, that allowed them to progress up the field with swift attacks.
Godoy Cruz, who needed a win to move closer towards qualification for the 2012 Copa Libertadores, never dropped their arms as they searched for a goal. Ariel Rojas pulled a goal back for them four minutes from full-time with a sensational long-range thunderbolt, however, the goal arrived much too late.
Argentine Apertura - Round 16 Results
November 25
Tigre 3 - 0 Atl. Rafaela
November 26
All Boys 0 - 0 Lanus
Newell's Old Boys 0 - 0 San Lorenzo
Racing Club 2 - 3 Belgrano
Olimpo 0 - 3 San Martin San Juan
November 27
Arsenal 1 - 2 Estudiantes
Velez Sarsfield 1 - 1 Colon
Banfield 2 - 2 Argentinos Juniors
Godoy Cruz 1 - 2 Boca Juniors
November 28
Union - Independiente
