The Primera División’s entertainers, Racing needed an injury time Ricardo Noir goal to claim a point from Tigre’s visit to the Cilindro in another wonderfully open game of football. In the absence of Luciano Lollo, La Academia have adapted the attitude that they will simply outscore their opponents and having won their previous four it has been working so credit to Pedro Troglio’s side for coming within a minute of stealing all three points.
Oscar Romero, surely bound for Europe in June, gave Racing an early lead after he pounced on some ponderous defending by Emiliano Papa but the visitors responded well and punished similarly weak defending at the other end.
Sebastián Rincon beat Leandro Grimi far too easily before smashing the ball past Sebastián Saja and moments later, the veteran goalkeeper was caught out trying to be too clever with the ball at his feet. An attempted cruyff turn was easily read by Federico González, who nicked the ball and rolled it into the empty net.
Chances continued to rain at either end with Gustavo Bou coming closest with a lob that came back off the post but eventually Racing were level. Minutes after half time, Luciano Aued drilled in a rasping low shot from 30 yards to make it 2-2 but once again, Facundo Sava’s side couldn’t hold on. A sweeping counter after a Racing corner saw Rincón dash clear and sweep the ball past Saja for his second of the game.
Racing were hammering on the door but just as it looked as though their defensive weakness would be punished, Ricardo Noir found a pocket of space and he clipped the ball over Javier García and ensured the home side claimed a point.
In La Bombonera, Boca Juniors produced perhaps their best display of the season to thoroughly outclass Atlético Rafaela. A delightful Carlos Tevez lob opened the scoring midway through the second half to settle any nerves and moments before the break, Federico Carrizo swept in a second to virtually end La Crema’s hopes of upsetting Boca.
The visitors were given an opportunity to get back into the game via the penalty spot when Agustín Orión took down Federico Anselmo but after perhaps being fortunate not to see red, the goalkeeper redeemed himself by saving Agustín Díaz’s effort.
With less than ten minutes remaining, Nicolás Lodeiro wrapped up the win with a simple close range finish. It was only a fourth league win of the season for Boca, who remain down in sixth but there were signs of recovery for Guillermo Barros Schelotto to take heart from.
golazo argentino 