Argentina Primera Division Report: Week 15 (Nov 19-21)
Boca Juniors missed out on a glorious opportunity to close-in on the Argentine Apertura championship after being held to a goalless draw by nine-man Racing Club on Sunday.
Boca Juniors failed to breakdown ten-man Racing
Boca Juniors missed out on an ideal opportunity to practically clinch the Argentine Apertura championship after fighting out a goalless draw with second-placed Racing Club at the Bombonera stadium on Sunday.
Despite failing to beat a Racing side that were reduced to nine-men, Boca have a healthy lead in the competition with 35 points from 15 matches, with only four rounds left in the season. Rivals Racing trail them by eight points, and will need to win their remaining matches and hope for a Boca slip-up in order to stay with a chance at the silverware.
Meanwhile, Velez Sarsfield moved into third-place, with 24 points, after beating Belgrano de Cordoba 3-1 on Saturday. Velez remain with mathematical possibilities at the title, but will have to pray for a miracle to win back-to-back championships.
Despite failing to beat a Racing side that were reduced to nine-men, Boca have a healthy lead in the competition with 35 points from 15 matches, with only four rounds left in the season. Rivals Racing trail them by eight points, and will need to win their remaining matches and hope for a Boca slip-up in order to stay with a chance at the silverware.
Meanwhile, Velez Sarsfield moved into third-place, with 24 points, after beating Belgrano de Cordoba 3-1 on Saturday. Velez remain with mathematical possibilities at the title, but will have to pray for a miracle to win back-to-back championships.
 | Belgrano 1 - 3 Vélez Sarsfield |  |
Estadio Julio César Villagra (Ciudad de Córdoba, Provincia de Córdoba), Saturday November 19th, 7:15PM EST
Velez Sarsfield defeated Belgrano de Cordoba 3-1 in a one-sided contest at the Mario Alberto Kempes stadium in Cordoba on Saturday.
The defending Argentine champions needed a win in order to remain with an outside chance at the title, and brushed aside a Belgrano side who sit comfortably in mid-table.
Ivan Bella, 24th minute, and Guillermo Franco, 30th minute, gave Velez a two-goal cushion going into the break in a half which the side from Liniers completely dominated with their trademark fast one-touch soccer.
Belgrano improved a great deal in the second half, pulling a goal back through Franco Vazquez in the 69th minute, however, five minutes later Ezequiel Rescaldani put the result beyond their reach with Velez's third and final goal.
The defending Argentine champions needed a win in order to remain with an outside chance at the title, and brushed aside a Belgrano side who sit comfortably in mid-table.
Ivan Bella, 24th minute, and Guillermo Franco, 30th minute, gave Velez a two-goal cushion going into the break in a half which the side from Liniers completely dominated with their trademark fast one-touch soccer.
Belgrano improved a great deal in the second half, pulling a goal back through Franco Vazquez in the 69th minute, however, five minutes later Ezequiel Rescaldani put the result beyond their reach with Velez's third and final goal.
 | San Lorenzo 0 - 1 Unión Santa Fe |  |
Estadio Pedro Bidegaín (Capital Federal, Ciudad de Buenos Aires), Sunday November 20th, 3:00PM EST
San Lorenzo were beaten 1-0 by Union de Santa Fe at the Nuevo Gasometro stadium on Sunday, a result that not only led to the dismissal of coach Omar Asad but left the side stranded in the relegation zone.
Paulo Rosales, with a sensational strike in the 73rd minute, earned the visitors the three points. Rosales found himself some space outside of the area and curled the ball into the top right corner of the goal, leaving San Lorenzo goalkeeper Nereo Champagne with no chance.
San Lorenzo, who are part of Argentina's 'big five', lacked quality in their game, and only looked like a menace in the attack towards the end of the match, however, even then they lacked determination when searching for a goal.
Paulo Rosales, with a sensational strike in the 73rd minute, earned the visitors the three points. Rosales found himself some space outside of the area and curled the ball into the top right corner of the goal, leaving San Lorenzo goalkeeper Nereo Champagne with no chance.
San Lorenzo, who are part of Argentina's 'big five', lacked quality in their game, and only looked like a menace in the attack towards the end of the match, however, even then they lacked determination when searching for a goal.
 | Boca Juniors 0 - 0 Racing Club |  |
Estadio Alberto Jacinto Armando (Ciudad de Buenos Aires), Sunday November 20th, 5:10PM EST
Boca Juniors failed to close-in on the Argentine Apertura championship after being held to a frustrating goalless draw by Racing Club at the Bombonera stadium on Sunday.
Knowing that a victory over second-placed Racing would practically assure them of the title, Boca pushed to the attack immediately from the kick-off as they searched for an opener. Boca piled heavy pressure on the Racing goal, while the visitors absorbed pressure and looked to break on swift counterattacks at every opportunity.
Racing were reduced to ten-men in the 55th minute when Agustin Pellettieri received a second bookable offense, and twenty minutes later Colombian striker Teofilo Gutierrez was sent-off, meaning the club from Avellaneda had to make do with nine players for the rest of the match.
Boca, who were without captain Juan Roman Riquelme, pushed everyone forward in an attempt to score a later winner, but Racing goalkeeper Sebastian Saja kept them at bay, making five excellent stops to earn his side what seemed an unlikely point.
Knowing that a victory over second-placed Racing would practically assure them of the title, Boca pushed to the attack immediately from the kick-off as they searched for an opener. Boca piled heavy pressure on the Racing goal, while the visitors absorbed pressure and looked to break on swift counterattacks at every opportunity.
Racing were reduced to ten-men in the 55th minute when Agustin Pellettieri received a second bookable offense, and twenty minutes later Colombian striker Teofilo Gutierrez was sent-off, meaning the club from Avellaneda had to make do with nine players for the rest of the match.
Boca, who were without captain Juan Roman Riquelme, pushed everyone forward in an attempt to score a later winner, but Racing goalkeeper Sebastian Saja kept them at bay, making five excellent stops to earn his side what seemed an unlikely point.
 | Lanús 0 - 1 Arsenal |  |
Estadio Ciudad de Lanús - Néstor Díaz Pérez (Lanús, Provincia de Buenos Aires), Monday November 21st, 7:15PM EST
Lanus missed out on a glorious opportunity to move into second-place after suffering a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal de Sarandi at the Cuidad de Lanus stadium on Monday.
The only goal of the match was scored by Guillermo Burdisso in the 20th minute, when he connected to a Nicolas Aguirre corner-kick with a powerful header. After going behind, Lanus pushed to the attack in search of an equaliser, however, they forgot their shooting boots, as they lacked accuracy with their finishing.
In the second period Lanus continued to pressure the Arsenal goal, but they couldn't beat Cristian Campestrini. The goalkeeper made several fine stops, including an attempt from Mariano Pavone and two successive efforts from Diego Valeri.
Argentine Apertura - Round 15 Results
November 18
Newell's Old Boys 0 - 1 Tigre
San Martin San Juan 0 - 0 All Boys
November 19
Argentinos Juniors 1 - 0 Godoy Cruz
Independiente 3 - 0 Olimpo
Belgrano 1 - 3 Velez Sarsfield
November 20
San Lorenzo 0 - 1 Union
Boca Juniors 0 - 0 Racing Club
Colon 1 - 0 Atl. Rafaela
November 21
Estudiantes 0 - 1 Banfield (suspended)
Lanus 0 - 1 Arsenal
The only goal of the match was scored by Guillermo Burdisso in the 20th minute, when he connected to a Nicolas Aguirre corner-kick with a powerful header. After going behind, Lanus pushed to the attack in search of an equaliser, however, they forgot their shooting boots, as they lacked accuracy with their finishing.
In the second period Lanus continued to pressure the Arsenal goal, but they couldn't beat Cristian Campestrini. The goalkeeper made several fine stops, including an attempt from Mariano Pavone and two successive efforts from Diego Valeri.
Argentine Apertura - Round 15 Results
November 18
Newell's Old Boys 0 - 1 Tigre
San Martin San Juan 0 - 0 All Boys
November 19
Argentinos Juniors 1 - 0 Godoy Cruz
Independiente 3 - 0 Olimpo
Belgrano 1 - 3 Velez Sarsfield
November 20
San Lorenzo 0 - 1 Union
Boca Juniors 0 - 0 Racing Club
Colon 1 - 0 Atl. Rafaela
November 21
Estudiantes 0 - 1 Banfield (suspended)
Lanus 0 - 1 Arsenal
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