San Lorenzo moved back to the top of the Primera table, if only for twenty-four hours, with a narrow 1-0 win over Independiente and although there was little between the two sides the result significantly increases the pressure on under-fire boss Jorge Almirón. It was probably El Rojo who should have led after a lively first half but instead a momentary but customary defensive lapse a minute before the break allowed Héctor Villalba to burst through on goal and thump a shot past a motionless Diego Rodríguez. Independiente had lost influential defensive midfielder Torito Rodríguez to injury shortly before to what it transpires is a fractured tibia and after the interval they lost any of the balance and incision that they had in the opening forty-five minutes. El Ciclón held on for all three points, bouncing back from last week’s defeat to River, where strangely Edgardo Bauza opted to rest players and they must now quickly prepare for Thursday’s crucial Libertadores match in Brazil. For Independiente it is another disappointment and with just three wins from the opening nine rounds, Almirón might not have much longer to turn it around. Argentinos Juniors visit Avellaneda next weekend and anything other than victory could be the final straw.
Conversely with two of Argentina’s big clásicos crossing over, Racing hosted Huracán. Both sides had rested players ahead of Libertadores action but it was Diego Cocca’s side that picked up the win thanks to two late goals. Huracán were hindered in the final minute of the first half when Guillermo Sotelo was shown a second yellow card perhaps a little harshly but it still took until the 75th minute for Racing’s superiority to tell. Nicolás Sánchez headed in from a corner to give La Academia the lead and minutes later Carlos ‘Nightclub’ Núñez skipped around Marcos Díaz to confirm the win.
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