ARGENTINA: Torneo Inicial 2013 – Week 9 Review

This article courtesy of GOLAZO ARGENTINO

With week 9 complete the table is beginning to take shape as we learn a little about who will be battling for the title and who will be propping up the table come December. Newell’s Old Boys are still the team to beat and their win over Argentinos Juniors keeps them on top of the pile but San Lorenzo are keeping pace as Arsenal also surprisingly remain in the hunt. At the other end of the table, Racing Club continue their nightmare start to the season but are kept in relative company by a couple of the newcomers, Olimpo and Rosario Central.

ARSENAL 1 – 0 GODOY CRUZ

Arsenal De Sarandi climbed to the top of the Torneo Inicial momentarily with Friday afternoon’s victory against Godoy Cruz and further increased the Mendoza club’s relegation worries. Ramiro Carrera’s smart pirouette and shot just after half time was enough to give Arsenal the win and continue Gustavo Alfaro’s sides surprisingly good start to the season. Martin Palermo will be concerned at his sides position and the frustration that led to the sendings off of Leonardo Sigali and Federico Lertora late on.

ALL BOYS 1 – 1 ROSARIO CENTRAL

In Floresta, All Boys drew 1-1 with Rosario Central despite playing most the game with 10 men after Gonzalo Espinoza’s deserved sending off. Mauro Matos scored again to give All Boys the lead with a fine left footed strike but Federico Carrizo scored the equaliser, cutting in from the left to fire low into the bottom corner.

ESTUDIANTES 0 – 0 VELEZ SARSFIELD

Lastly on Friday, in La Plata, Estudiantes drew 0-0 with Velez Sarsfield. In spite of the scoreline, there were plenty of chances in this game but neither side could find the breakthrough. Roman Martinez came closest for the home side but his header came back off the cross bar.

SAN LORENZO 3 – 0 GIMNASIA LA PLATA

San Lorenzo thrashed Gimnasia in El Nuevo Gasómetro to move 2 points clear at the top of the table, at least until Newell’s played on Sunday. Juan Antonio Pizzi’s side dominated from the start and were good value for their 3 goal win and also showed that they have goals in them in spite of missing Martin Cauteruccio. Gonzalo Veron’s pacy burst made the first as he sliced through Gimnasia’s defence and then unselfishly squared the ball for the impressive Ignacio Piatti for the easiest of goals. 5 minutes into the second half and, this time, it was Pablo Alvarado who skipped through the porous defence and finished past Fernando Monetti. Soon after, the game was dead and buried when Piatti found himself at the end of a nice passing sequence and clipped the ball into the net for his second.

ATLETICO RAFAELA 2 – 0 OLIMPO

Atletico Rafaela defeated Olimpo by two goals to nil and added a crucial 3 points in the relegation fight. An early penalty scored by Diego Vera set up the victory before Federico Gonzalez ensured the win in the 82nd minute. For Olimpo it’s now 5 consecutive away defeats, a stat they will want to remedy soon.

NEWELL’S OLD BOYS 2 – 0 ARGENTINOS JUNIORS

Newell’s Old Boys bid to win back-to-back league titles continued today with a 2-0 win over Argentinos Juniors. Maxi Rodriguez opened the scoring and then missed a penalty but his error went unpunished as Pablo Perez’s 71st minute strike ensured they went back to the top of the table.

TIGRE 1 – 0 COLON

An ill-tempered game in Victoria saw Tigre edge Colon 1-0 in a game that also saw 4 red cards. Boca loanee, Sergio Araujo was first to go for the home side but that didn’t prevent them taking the lead when Ramiro Leone cooly finished. Frustration mounted and Colon had Maxi Caire, Ruben Ramirez and Lucas Landa all dismissed to complete a thoroughly disappointing day.

BELGRANO 3 – 0 RACING CLUB

Racing’s woes continued as they were comfortably beaten in Cordoba by Belgrano. Cesar Pereyra scored the first 2, the first a curling finish to capitalize on some poor defending and his second a spectacular overhead kick. Carlos Bueno added the third when he deflected in a shot late on. The 3-0 score line keeps Racing rooted to the foot of the table.

BOCA JUNIORS 2 – 0 QUILMES

Boca Juniors welcomed Juan Roman Riquelme back into the lineup and he helped them to a 2-0 win against Quilmes in La Bombonera thanks to Emanuel Gigliotti’s brace. Riquelme’s scooped pass for the first, set Gigliotti free and he fired low past Sebastian Peratta. If Riquelme was the architect for the first, the second was Fernando Gago. He won the ball back on halfway and then released Juan Sanchez Miño who crossed from the left for Gigliotti to head the winner. With a fit Riquelme and Gago in midfield, Boca could be dangerous. With the superclasico one week away, it couldn’t be a better time for Boca to have them both back.

LANUS 0 – 1 RIVER PLATE

River Plate provided the one away win of the weekend against the form book by snatching a win in Lanus. An open game with plenty of chances was heading for a draw when Gabriel Mercado popped up with a last minute winner for River. The decision to award a free kick which led to the goal infuriated Lanus and after Mercado had headed in the loose ball, Lanus Manager, Guillermo Barros Schelotto got himself sent to the stands following his protests. A great win for River, as the two sides will meet again in the Copa Sudamericana and River have the Superclasico in one week.