Boca Juniors 2-2 flush with Argentinos Juniors in a lively match this Saturday and won the first ticket to the final of the Diego Maradona Cup of Argentinian football, while River Plate was out of the battle for the title when Independiente fell 2-0.
Boca, who set up a multiple-substitution formation, recovered from an unfavorable start, as Argentinos started better and took the lead with a goal from Diego Sosa (9).
(Also read: Cavani and ‘Gracias, negrito’: racism or exaggeration? Analysis)
The ‘Xeneize’ team turned the score around with goals from Mauro Zárate (24), after a brilliant assist from the Colombian Edwin Cardona, and Ramón Wanchope Abila (60), who missed a penalty in the first half (42), which he lifted over the bar.
Boca seemed to be heading for the final, but Fausto Vera (87) was a draw for Argentinos, who had to win to become a finalist.
For example, Boca finished at the top of group A of the championship phase with 9 points, followed by River (8 and goal difference +1) and Argentinos Juniors (8 and 0), and in the final of the Maradona Cup they will compete against the winner of the group. B, to be announced on Sunday, with Banfield, Talleres de Córdoba and Gimnasia La Plata as candidates to get the other ticket for the definition.
(Also: Closer and Closer: Reinaldo Rueda is no longer Chile’s coach)
In addition to playing the Maradona Cup final next week, Boca has the Copa Libertadores as its main target, which is why it reserved most of its starters for the semi-final revenge against Brazilian Santos, who will play in Vila next Wednesday. Belmiro after equaling 0-0 in the first match.
On the other hand, River had a good chance of fighting for a place in the final against the already eliminated Independiente, but the ‘Rojo’, who even had no technical director for the last few hours due to the resignation of Lucas Pusineri, surprised him. with a double from the skilled Alan Velasco (24 and 40), in a duel that showed the ‘Millionaires’ in bad shape.
(You may be interested in: Cristiano outperformed Pelé in goals, not at stake (Last tango, opinion)
Like Boca, River will play all or nothing in the other Copa Libertadores semi-finals next Tuesday, when it visits Palmeiras in Sao Paulo. Those led by Marcelo Gallardo have to overcome three goals as visitors, after a 3-0 fall in the first match.
SPORT
With AFP