Boca go top on another trouble-hit weekend in Argentina

(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-10-30 16:40

BUENOS AIRES - Boca Juniors beat Argentinos Juniors 2-1 to go back to the top of the Argentine championship as the competition, which has been plagued by postponed and interrupted matches, ran into more trouble at the weekend.

The Banfield-Racing Club game was postponed less than half an hour before kick-off after a floodlight problem even though commentators said the game could comfortably have been played.

Boca have 28 points from 11 games and lead on goal difference from Estudiantes and River Plate, who have played two games more.

Estudiantes beat Nueva Chicago 2-1 and River were held 0-0 by Independiente.

Boca's win over Argentinos produced nine yellow cards and two reds on Sunday.

Boca defender Juan Krupoviesa scored with a diving header in the 40th minute but was sent off for insulting the referee in the 62nd minute, two minutes after Argentinos Juniors midfielder Christian Ledesma was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

Mauro Boselli increased Boca's lead in the 72nd minute and Sebastian Carrera pulled one back for Argentinos with five minutes left.

Boca have two matches in hand after being involved in two of the championship's trouble-hit games.

Their match at Gimnasia-La Plata in September was abandoned at halftime after the referee said he had been threatened by the president of the home team while their match at Racing Club last week was called off due to a row over hooliganism.

CROWD TROUBLE

Two other matches have been abandoned due to crowd trouble in the competition and on Saturday night the Banfield-Racing clash was postponed because of problems in one of the floodlight towers.

Referee Sergio Pezzotta called off the game after consulting both goalkeepers with the stadium already full of supporters.

Estudiantes, again inspired by former Lazio and Manchester United midfielder Sebastian Veron, claimed their sixth win in a row against Nueva Chicago.

Mariano Pavone, with his eighth goal of the competition, and an Adrian Gonzalez own goal put Estudiantes in control in the first half before Federico Higuain replied for the visitors before halftime.

Previous leaders River Plate were held 0-0 draw with midtable Independiente.

Rosario Central beat Newell's Old Boys 4-1 in the Rosario derby helped by goals from former Costa Rica striker Paulo Wanchope and former Argentina midfielder Kily Gonzalez.

Eduardo Coudet and Marco Ruben completed the scoring for Rosario while Carlos Araujo replied for Newell's.

Newell's had Oscar Cardozo and Hugo Colace sent off in the second half.

The game was marred by another episode of crowd trouble as police fired rubber bullets at rioting Newell's fans at halftime. However, World Cup final referee Horacio Elizondo decided the game could continue.