Boca Juniors made it two wins from two on Sunday evening with victory over Newell’s Old Boys in Rosario.
In a first half with little between the two sides Newell’s felt aggrieved at a penalty appeal being waved away after the ball caught Jorman Campuzano’s arm and in a game of such fine margins all it took was one error. Former Boca midfielder Pablo Pérez gifted possession to Eduardo Salvio and a perfectly weighted pass released Carlos Tevez to skip round Alan Aguerre and score just before half time.
An elbow injury to Aguerre compounded the home side’s bad luck and Newell’s never really looked like getting back into the game once they were behind.
Lisandro López headed a second fifteen minutes from time and that proved enough for Boca to see out the points comfortably. Lanús and Talleres, the remaining teams from Group 4, play on Monday but it’s Boca in firm control with La Lepra in need of a result away to Lanús next week.
Newell’s Old Boys 0 – 2 Boca Juniors
So too are Racing Club after slipping to a second consecutive defeat away to Unión.
La Academia’s failure to make anything of a host of chances in Santa Fe came back to cost them as Fernando Márquez bundled Unión in front early and then Boca Juniors loanee Mauro Luna Diale struck on the counter.
Earlier on Sunday in the same group, Atlético Tucumán snatched a late win over Arsenal to maintain a 100% record at the top.
Full-back Gabriel Risso Patrón gave Atlético an early lead in Sarandí, the ideal response from the side’s Copa Sudamericana exit on Thursday night.
However Mateo Carabajal pulled Arsenal level after the break despite strong shouts for a handball in the build-up. The home side then saw Emiliano Méndez sent off and the ten men couldn’t quite hold on, Lucas Melano tapping in a rebound in injury time to win it for Atlético.
Unión 2 – 0 Racing Club
Arsenal 1 – 2 Atlético Tucumán
And finally in La Plata, Vélez Sarsfield were also grateful to a last ditch goal as Mauricio Pellegrino’s side battled to a draw against Gimnasia.
Thiago Almada got Vélez off to the perfect start and the visitors held the lead into the second half. However, Lautaro Gianetti giving away a penalty and getting sent off in the process saw Matías Garcia level and soon after Johan Carbonero put Gimnasia in front.
That looked set to give Diego Maradona a much needed boost as he watched from hospital and yet in stoppage time a cleverly taken free-kick from the impressive Ricky Álvarez released substitute Luca Orellano and the youngster thrashed in the equaliser.
Two draws for Vélez at least keep Pellegrino unbeaten but the performances have been poor and the new manager needs improvements if they are to progress from Group 6.
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