Saturday’s and Sunday’s matches in the Torneo Inicial brought no fewer than twenty goals in seven matches – in fact, twenty goals in six matches, since River Plate v Belgrano ended goalless thanks largely to the incredible profligacy, yet again, of River’s forwards. Earlier on Sunday, Rosario Central had shocked league leaders Newell’s Old Boys with a 2-1 win in an entertaining clásico rosarino, Gimnasia had drawn 2-2 with Olimpo in La Plata, and Tigre had ended Arsenal de Sarandí’s unbeaten start to the season by coming from behind to win 2-1. Later, Boca Juniors needed a last minute penalty to rescue a 2-2 draw away to Godoy Cruz. On Saturday, Lanús beat Colón 3-0 away and San Lorenzo beat All Boys by the same scoreline at home. San Lorenzo were the only one of the top eight to claim a win this weekend. All the goals are right here.
Colón 0-3 Lanús
This was probably the least appetising match of the weekend, going on both sides’ form coming into it. Lanús proved, though, that they’re a decent side enduring a poor season whilst Colón are, just possibly, a plain poor team. Diego González opened the scoring on the stroke of half time; Víctor Ayala (with a stunner) and Lucas Melano completed the victory in the second half.
San Lorenzo 3-0 All Boys
Calls for Julio César Falcioni’s head grow in Floresta following this woeful defeat away against one of the title chasing pack. San Lorenzo were the only side in the top eight of the championship table to manage a win this weekend, instantly bouncing back from their midweek Copa Argentina final defeat by this same scoreline at the hands of Arsenal de Sarandí. Ángel Correa scored twice from outside the box and Héctor Villalba got the third as the hosts won at a canter.
Rosario Central 2-1 Newell’s Old Boys
A fantastic Rosario derby saw newly-promoted Central claim the victory against their league-leading neighbours, with Alejandro Donatti opening the scoring just eleven minutes in. Newell’s dominated the first half thereafter, and Maxi Rodríguez equalised just four minutes later (his ninth goal in ten matches for club and country), but just before the half hour Hernán Encina pounced to score what proved to be the winner, and in spite of relentless Newell’s pressure in the second half, Central held out for a win they celebrated long and loudly.
Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata 2-2 Olimpo
Olimpo hadn’t managed a single point away from home before last weekend; now they’ve got four points from two back-to-back away matches, and it might have been six but for Facundo Pereyra’s equaliser for Gimnasia with 13 minutes left. Ignacio Fernández had given the hosts the lead halfway through the first half, but Damián Musto and Agustín Vuletich scored nine minutes apart in the second to give Olimpo the lead prior to Pereyra’s leveller.
Tigre 2-1 Arsenal Fútbol Club
Arsenal were the only side left in the Primera who were still unbeaten coming into this weekend, but keeping that record up proved too much for a side already stretched by their Copa Argentina-winning exploits in midweek. Milton Caraglio put Arsenal ahead 66 minutes in with a fantastic header, but two goals in the space of a minute from Matías Pérez García and Cristian Bordacahar turned the game on its head and gave Tigre an unexpected three points.
River Plate 0-0 Belgrano
Bloody hell, River’s forwards are in bad form.
Godoy Cruz 2-2 Boca Juniors
This match had a bit of everything. Emanuel Gigliotti gave Boca the lead half an hour in, but José Luis Fernández arrived at the back post eight minutes before the break to ensure the scores were level at half time. Mauro Óbolo scored just a minute and a bit into the second half after Federico Lértora hit both posts with a shot, and Godoy looked like winning, but Lértora’s red card in the 72nd minute set up a nervy finish, and when Boca were awarded a penalty – the third spot kick they might have been given in the closing minutes – Claudio Pérez stepped up to roll home the equaliser. Post-match, there was a brawl on the pitch which carried on into the tunnel, with the hosts incensed by the officiating.
Hasta El Gol Siempre 