Cristian PAVON and Carlos TEVEZ both scored for Boca Juniors in their 4-2 win against Libertad in the Copa Libertadores.
It was a fairly good week for Argentine clubs in South America’s premier club competition. Boca finished the round in style with their win and two Argentina internationals were on target. Having taken a 2-0 lead from the first leg, Boca let in the first goal of the match offan Oscar CARDOZO goal. Cristian PAVON equalized after work from Dario BENEDETTO (now back from injury which kept him out of Argentina’s World Cup squad).
Argentina U20 World Cup winner in 2007 Mauro ZARATE made it 2-1 for Boca and all but put an end to the tie. Oscar CARDOZO made it 2-2 on the night off a penalty.
Carlos TEVEZ came off the bench and restored Boca’s lead making it 3-2 before Edwin CARDONA’s panenka penalty finished it all off.
Here are the matches for the quarter finals:
Atletico Tucuman vs. Gremio
Independiente vs. River Plate
Colo Colo vs. Palmeiras
Boca Juniors vs. Cruzeiro
There are four Argentine clubs left in the tournament along with three Brazilian clubs and one Chilean.
Giovani LO CELSO is presently in Spain as he is about to sign for Real Betis.
Argentina international LO CELSO doesn’t appear to be in the plans of PSG coach Thomas TUCHEL and the Argentine midfielder looks to be on his way out. According to several reports, LO CELSO is presently in Seville about to sign for Real Betis.
Giovani Lo Celso ya está en Sevilla para firmar por el #Betis. El italo-argentino ha sido recibido en el aeropuerto de San Pablo por Lorenzo Serra Ferrer vía @Matglez@AFDLPpic.twitter.com/53F9fAEIs2
Watford coach Javi GARCIA was full of kind words to say when asked about Argentina international Roberto PEREYRA.
The former River Plate and Juventus man has been on fire for the hornets scoring three goals in three matches in the English Premier League this season. Speaking to the media, here’s what the GARCIA had to say:
“He is an important player for us. I think in this moment he feels confident and he finishes his chances to score very well.
“He is working with a good balance with the rest of the team. He’s showing a good attitude when we lose the ball, pressing high.
“Most important at the moment is the attitude of the team, but everybody knows he is playing well.”
Roberto PEREYRA’s Watford play host to Erik LAMELA’s Tottenham on Sunday in the league.
It was a clash of two Argentine giants as River Plate hosted Racing Club at El Monumental in the Copa Libertadores.
But before that, Independiente were away to Santos in Brazil and the lead up to that match was not without controversy. Just hours before kick off on Tuesday, CONMEBOL stated that last week’s 0-0 draw in Argentina would be turned into a 3-0 victory in favor of Independiente. The reason being that Santos had fielded Carlos SANCHEZ who was ineligible.
The match ended the same way the first leg did (prior to the change of decision) which was a 0-0 draw. It was more than enough to help Independiente reach the quarter finals of South America’s most prestigious club competition.
That night continued to be a good one for Argentine clubs. Atletico Tucuman were away to Atletico Nacional and having picked up a 2-0 victory in Argentina, Tucuman had a bit of a cushion going into the second leg. The nerves kicked in early for the Argentine side with Omar DUARTE scoring in the 12th minute for Nacional. However, goalkeeper Cristian LUCCHETTI was called into action on more than one occasion to help preserve Tucuman’s advantage.
With two Argentine clubs progressing, Estudiantes de la Plata looked to make it three out of three and came so close to doing so, had it not been for an injury time goal by ALISSON. Estudiantes had managed a 2-1 win in La Plata and only a 2-1 win for Gremio would take the match to penalty kicks.
Everon gave the Brazilian team a 1-0 lead just six minutes into the match but an equalizer just three minutes later by Lucas RODRIGUEZ helped ease the tension. It remained 1-1 up until ALISSON’s header beat Argentina international Mariano ANDUJAR.
The match required penalty kicks and Gremio went a perfect five for five while Gaston CAMPI missed for Estudiantes as Gremio qualified for the next round.
A big clash in the Round of 16 was River Plate hosting Racing Club. The first leg finished 0-0 in Avellaneda but the second leg saw three goals and three red cards.
Argentina international Lucas PRATTO scored the opening goal for River Plate in the 11th minute and the 2015 Copa Libertadores winners never looked back. Exequiel PALACIOS made it 2-0 and in the second half Rafael BORRE made it 3-0 to seal the win.
Enzo PEREZ received a red which means he would miss the quarter finals for River Plate while Ricardo CENTURION and Alexis SOTO also saw red.
Beginning with a new weekly series, it’s the Argentina Throwback Thursday where we will be looking at either a goal, a performance or a match from times past.
To kick off the series we have one of the greatest number 9’s of his generation and one who left his mark with Argentina, Hernan CRESPO. It was the qualifiers for the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics and also Argentina’s final match in the first group stage. The game took place in Mar del Plata on February 26 where the Albiceleste got a 4-0 win.
It was a goal made in River Plate as Matias ALMEYDA flicked the ball over not one but two Colombian players before crossing it over to Hernan CRESPO. The Argentina number 9 found himself on the end of the lovely play and scored an absolutely stunning volley into the top corner. The goalkeeper stood no chance.
A great goal and definitely one from the archives which was worth taking a look at!
