The first thing I’ll say is this: if you’re six feet tall, have blond hair and blue eyes, and go to La Bombonera for a match, think twice about taking any more than the absolute bare minimum with you. I took the money I needed for my ticket, plus my camera and mobile phone to the clásico against San Lorenzo, and whilst I used my camera without any problems throughout (including taking the photo above) I had my phone stolen in the popular after the match. I’m fully aware that this would’ve been far less likely in the platea (which I would’ve preferred, but which was sold out by the time I arrived), but all the same it wasn’t a nice experience. Fellow gringos, ten cuida’o. Camina pa’lante, no mires pa’ el la’o, as one of my favourite salsa songs says (Willie Colón and Héctor Lavoe’s Calle Luna, Calle Sol, if anyone’s interested).
Anyway, if my supposed ‘bias’ towards River Plate was evident before – and whilst it exists I hope it wasn’t evident in my writing – I’m sure Johnny et al will forgive me if it now becomes irreversible. Elsewhere in the Primera on Sunday, Atlético Tucumán were relegated following a 2-2 draw against Rosario Central (those who read this post will recall Atlético needed to win all their remaining matches) and Gimnasia La Plata lost 3-1 away to Argentinos Juniors. Those results made for a fantastic weekend for Racing Club, who beat Banfield 2-0 in El Cilindro to move six points clear of the playoff places in the Promedio with only nine to play for – virtually assuring their safety for at least another season.
Primera División Torneo Clausura 2010, sixteenth round:
Vélez Sarsfield (R. Zárate 90+2) 1 – 0 Tigre (R. Arruabarrena OFF 74)
Godoy Cruz Antonio Tomba (D. Ramírez 18) 1 – 0 Chacarita Juniors
Lanús (S. Hoyos 12; S. Salcedo 45+1; L. Díaz 50; N. Carrasco 81) 4 – 1 Arsenal Fútbol Club (L. Leguizamón 62; J. Yacuzzi OFF 88)
Newell’s Old Boys (J. Boghossian 16, 57; M. Sperdutti 24; M. Fórmica 32; J. Achucarro 42) 5 – 0 Colón
Estudiantes de La Plata (F. Quiroga OG 20) 1 – 0 River Plate (D. Villalva OFF 87; G. Cabral OFF 88)
Huracán 0 – 0 Independiente
Argentinos Juniors (N. Ortigoza 26; I. Sosa 69; S. Raymonda 86) 3 – 1 Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata (L. Castro 67)
Racing Club (M. Martínez 74; C. Bieler 80) 2 – 0 Banfield
Atlético Tucumán (L. Rodríguez 2, 51; R. Herrera 53) 2 – 2 Rosario Central (E. Zelaya 21; M. Caraglio 58)
Boca Juniors (M. Giménez 3; M. Palermo 70) 2 – 0 San Lorenzo de Almagro
Argentinos Juniors 3 – 1 Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata
Racing Club 2 – 0 Banfield
Atlético Tucumán 2 – 2 Rosario Central
Boca Juniors 2 – 0 San Lorenzo de Almagro
You can follow the Clausura and the Argentine sides in the 2010 Copa Libertadores via HEGS on Twitter (including updates during and between matches and similar stories that might not go up on the site until later). I’m slowly gaining followers, but if you’ve not signed up yet you can do so here.
Hasta El Gol Siempre 
Ha Ha ! Well Sam, welcome to Buenos Aires once again ! Too bad your first experience with snatch and grab, BsAs style, happened at the Bombanera. During my first two weeks in BsAs I had my phone swiped (by a kid on a bicycle) and I stepped in dogshit. Both are nearly a rite of passage here. I have had another phone stolen since, and one in for repair “vanished”.
Like I say, too bad this has cemented your dislike for Boca, but as they say-it can (and does) happen anywhere.
Terrible match, no ?! Awful. I’ll take the victory as Boca’s defense was slightly better than San Lorenzo’s offense. Both being bad. Though Munoz had a good performance.
I mean BombOnera !!