Domestic football returned to Argentina this past weekend as the 'controversially' named Crucero General Belgrano Clausura 2012 – the fact that the first half of the season was christened the Néstor Kirchner Clausura 2011 Copa Malvinas Argentinas went completely unnoticed by the international press – kicked off with seven goals in its inaugural double-header, with champions Boca Juniors seeing off Olimpo at La Bombonera while Lanus became the first league leaders of 2012 with 4-1 hammering of San Lorenzo.
Boca claimed the Apertura with the meanest defence in the league, conceding just juts six goals in their 19 games on the way to the title, and managed yet another clean sheet on Friday evening – Rolando Schiavi and co. reducing the visitors to just five efforts on goal. Dario Cvitanich prodded Boca into the lead shortly before the break, left with an open net after Pablo Mouche smartly headed down a Juan Roman Riquelme cross into the on-loan Ajax striker’s path. Mouche himself grabbed the second shortly after the hour mark, latching onto a perfectly weighted Riquelme through-ball.
El Tanque Pavone celebrates his brace
Lanus have emerged over recent seasons as one of the consistent performers in Argentina. Currently sitting third in the three year average points table, they’ll rightly fancy their chances of grabbing a first league title since 2007 and Gabriel Schürrer’s side made the perfect start with an emphatic opening day victory over San Lorenzo. Diego Braghieri swivelled to volley Lanus ahead after quarter of an hour before headers from Matías Fritzler and former Mariano Pavone put them three up by half-time. Pavone added a well taken fourth five minutes after the break. Carlos Bueno did pull one back for the visitors, but San Lorenzo will have to drastically improve if they hope to avoid following River Plate into Primera B.
‘It was an important victory,’ said Pavone. ‘Luckily, we have been able to turn the page after some difficult days following what happened in Salta,’ he added, alluding to Lanus being knocked out of the Copa Argentina on penalties by Primera B Metropolitana side Barracas Central, a result that left club President Nicolás Russo admitting he was too ashamed to walk the streets.
Saturday saw Apertura high-flyers Belgrano held to a goalless draw at home to relegation candidates All Boys. Fellow strugglers Newell’s grab a good point away to Estudiantes in what was new Newell’s coach Gerardo Martino’s first game in charge of the club he helped to three league titles as a player; Maxi Urruti’s second half strike cancelling out former Wigan striker Mauro Boselli’s penalty.
The evening’s final fixture saw Ramon Diaz’ Independiente fall 1-0 to San Martin in San Juan, Gastón Caprari’s goal on the hour mark proving enough to grab all three points. It wasn’t the sort of start new Independiente President Javier Cantero was hoping for. ‘It wasn’t the best weekend of my life,’ said Cantero.
Rafaela are enjoying life in the Primera
The weekend’s action continued into through Sunday with two goalless draws. Argentinos Juniors were held at home Union while Racing, who managed just 16 goals last season, continued to misfire against relegation battlers Tigre. Velez were also held at home, drawing 1-1 with Godoy Cruz. The goals finally arrived with Atletico Rafaela’s 3-0 trouncing of lowly Banfield, who look increasingly likely to find themselves in serious relegation trouble just three years after current Boca coach Julio Falcioni led the club to its first ever league title. El Taladro (The Drill) still have five clubs between themselves and the final relegation play-off spot, but will have to drastically improve if they hope to avoid being dragged into the thick of it and being left with an impossible task of staying up next season once their title-winning points total is taken off their overall average.
Round 1 drew to a close on Monday night as Colon and Arsenal played out the round's fourth goalless draw.
Goal of the Week: Christian Fabbiani (Independiente Rivadavia)
Christian Fabbiani has certainly let himself go since first shooting to prominence as a teenager with Lanus, but ‘El Ogro’ (The Ogre) reminded us all of his sublime talents at the weekend with this moment of brilliance for second division Independiente Rivadavia.
Results & Highlights
Belgrano 0-0 All Boys
Argentinos Juniors 0-0 Union de Santa Fe
Racing 0-0 Tigre
Atletico de Rafaela 3-0 Banfield.
Colon 0-0 Arsenal
