Friday’s Torneo Final matches held little excitement, but Saturday’s three games saw 15 (fifteen!) goals, and over both days there were talking points galore. First, there was a 1-1 draw between Independiente and Unión, after which Américo Gallego’s resignation was rejected by Independiente’s board, only for him to be let go 24 hours later. Argentinos Juniors and Atlético Rafaela played out a deathly dull 0-0 on Friday night. Then on Saturday, everything got silly. Boca Juniors put out a mostly first team XI but were tonked 6-1 – their worst defeat in nearly a decade – by relegation-threatened San Martín; Racing beat San Lorenzo 4-1 in Bajo Flores in a game chock full of great goals, and leaders Lanús got a barely deserved (okay, frankly totally undeserved) 2-1 win over All Boys. All the goals are here.
Independiente 1 – 1 Unión
Independiente’s forwards have been so poor in recent weeks that youngster Adrián Fernández was handed a debut here, and he repaid Tolo Gallego’s faith with a proper target man’s goal to give the hosts the lead five minutes before half time. Ten minutes before the end, though, Brahian (that’s pronounced ‘Brian’; don’t ask) Alemán got an equaliser for Unión. The result left Independiente all but doomed, and Gallego presenting his resignation, which was rejected by the board; but on Saturday evening it was confirmed that he was gone.
Argentinos Juniors 0 – 0 Atlético Rafaela
Nothing to say about this one. No, really; I fell asleep halfway through the second half, and only woke up a couple of minutes after the full time whistle. By all accounts, I didn’t miss anything.
San Martín de San Juan 6 – 1 Boca Juniors
San Martín were 16 games without a win before this weekend, so of course they handed one of the country’s biggest clubs arguably their most humiliating defeat ever; how could it be otherwise? Colombian forward Humberto Osorio got a hat trick, and there were goals for Jorge Luna, Lucas Landa and Sebastián Penco in what surely is the greatest result in San Martín’s history. Boca’s only goal not only came from a penalty (scored by Santiago Silva)… but from a penalty which shouldn’t even have been a penalty – the foul was (just) outside the area.
After the match, Boca manager Carlos Bianchi congratulated San Martín boss Rubén Forestello, before telling the press, ‘this was a shameful match.’ The last time Boca lost by five goals, it was a 7-2 defeat away to Rosario Central on the last day of the 2003 Torneo Clausura. San Martín were one goal away from equalling Boca’s heaviest ever loss, a 7-1 defeat to Independiente back in July 1940.
San Lorenzo 1 – 4 Racing Club
The weekend’s Big Five clásico was a belter. The scoreline maybe flattered Racing, but they were deserving winners. San Lorenzo opened the scoring though, with a phenomenal, Maradona-esque goal from youngster Héctor Villalba – seriously, you’ve got to see it – who ran eighty yards with the ball before slamming it past Sebastián Saja. Thereafter though, Racing were the more clinical finishers. Defensive midfielder Bruno Zuculini scored twice, and Rodrigo De Paul and Luciano Vietto got one each in a game full of golazos, as Luis Zubeldía’s young side bounced back from last week’s defeat to River Plate in spectacular fashion.
I apologise for the commentator’s amazingly annoying ‘sí sí sí sí sí‘ when he announces each goal on this video. This is the kind of shit we have to put up with watching games here on TV.
Lanús 2 – 1 All Boys
Lanús had drawn two in a row, and although still unbeaten, their lead was in danger of being whittled away here. Still, Mario Regueiro fired them ahead 20 minutes in and all was right with the world. Halfway through the second half, though, Ángel Vildozo equalised. By this time All Boys had already seen a legitimate goal disallowed by a bizarre refereeing decision.
The visitors continued to pile the pressure on for the rest of the game, until with a minute of stoppage time to go, Silvio Romero collected the ball, moved inside and slammed a superb shot past Nicolás ‘brother of Esteban’ Cambiasso to win the game for Lanús. It was a desperately cruel defeat for All Boys. Prior to that goal, River and/or Newell’s Old Boys could have caught Lanús with wins on Sunday; Romero’s winner (he’s now scored in all of Lanús’ five home games in 2013) ensures they’ll remain outright top at the end of this round.
Hasta El Gol Siempre 