Boca Juniors Hand Archrival River Plate Apertura Lead

So fierce is the rivalry between Boca Juniors and River Plate that the idea that either team would help the other is a nightmare for fans, but that is exactly what happened Sunday afternoon in another wildly entertaining weekend of the Argentina Primera Division. 

Boca had managed just one point through three matches, but knocked off previously perfect Vélez Sarsfield in La Bombonera that left River Plate alone atop the Apertura standings. 

At the time that River took the field against Argentinos Juniors at El Paternal, Los Millonarios were level on points with Vélez and Arsenal, but by gaining a point away to the defending champions, River moved a point clear and remained the tournament's only leader thanks to Boca handing Vélez its first loss of the season. 

It was not the kind of match River coach Angel Cappa had envisioned, but he will be pleased to have clinched a valuable point on the road especially when the team did not play well. 

Goalkeeper Juan Pablo Carrizo made a number of key interventions as Juan Mercier bossed the midfield during the first half when Argentinos was significantly better than River. 

In the second half however, Cappa made a number of key substitutions that carved open the Argenitnos defense, but River could not take advantage of their improved midfield, as captain Ariel Ortega was guilty of missing a guilt edged chance after being put through on goal by Roberto Pereyra. 

Seventeen-year-old phenom Manuel Lanzini entered after 56 minutes, and immediately improved the team linking with Ortega, who had already debuted for River at the time Lanzini was born. 

Ten minutes from time, Ortega slipped a pass to Lanzini, but it was just slightly over-hit, allowing Argentinos keeper Nicolás Navarro to dash of his line and get the slightest of touches on the ball and clear the danger. 

Left back Carlos Arano tried his luck from long range, but Navarro was was up the task and parried the well-struck shot. 

As River left the field, there was a sense that the result could have been viewed as two points lost rather than a point gamed and could only sit and see how the later game between Boca and Vélez played out. 

Boca finally got off the mark for their first victory and were put on their way thanks when Matias Gimenez picked out Juan Manuel Insaurralde with a free kick, and the former Newell's Old Boys defender's header was saved by German Montoya, but Sebastian Battaglia was on hand to bundle home the rebound and send the Boca fans into a state of euphoria. 

After the hour mark, Boca doubled its delight from another Gimenez free kick. The Vélez defense failed to clear its lines, and Lucas Viatri pounced to score his third goal of the season, which he dedicated to injured teammate Juan Roman Riquelme, who was watching the game from the stands. 

Just when it appeared Boca was cruising, Uruguay international Santiago Silva pulled Vélez a goal back with a bullet header from Emilano Papa's perfect cross. 

The final five minutes were nervous as Vélez came close to finding the equalizer, but Boca held on for its first victory. 

Although Boca is clearly pleased to have won, they now have the unpleasant experience of viewing River atop the standings for at least the next week when Vélez hosts River in what is surely to be a thrilling match.