Boca players celebrate at full time in El Monumental

Boca Juniors scored another famous victory in El Monumental yesterday evening thanks to Emanuel Gigliotti’s first half goal. Both sides had chances to add more but River, particularly, were guilty of profligacy. Ramon Diaz maintains his side were the “better team” but their second half performance was a little flat. The result leaves Boca 5 points clear of the their old rivals and just 4 behind leaders Newell’s.

The Estadio Monumental is becoming a rich hunting ground for Boca front man, Emanuel Gigliotti having netted there on 3 previous occasions for Atletico Tucuman, All Boys and Colon. Adding the winner in the Super Clasico to that list is impressive and another match winning performance since his big move to Boca bodes well.

The match was always going to be decided by fine margins and there were other chances that could have added to Gigliotti’s solitary strike.

There were chances at either end before the 22nd minute when Gigliotti got in front of Jonathan Maidana to poke Juan Manuel Martinez’s cross past Marcelo Barovero.

What will disappoint River fans is the second half performance when trailing against their bitter rivals. There were chances and Orion’s post was struck on two occasions but there was not the prolonged pressure or intensity that one might expect.

Boca were able to hold on with relative ease and celebrated on the pitch, as if it was a cup final, much to the annoyance of Ramon Diaz.

The River Manager obviously saw things a little differently and stressed that “the best side did not win” and “we showed that we are great.”

This is a difficult case to argue when the game itself was evenly contested and River now find themselves well off the pace in the championship. A defeat next week against Newell’s will end all hopes of another title.