Boca Juniors 1-0 River Plate
Boca Juniors and River Plate literally went toe to toe at the Estadio Alberto J. Armando (A.K.A. La Bombonera) on Thursday evening in the Semifinals of the Copa Libertadores. There wasn't much fan violence due to the fact that no River fans were allowed in La Bombonera, but the players on the field showed how much love they had for one another. That answer is none. Boca came out on top thanks to Rolando Schiavi connecting on a cross from Guillermo Barros Schelotto and his header found the near post and beat Los Millonarios keeper German Lux in minute 28. However the main incident took place a few minutes later. Raul Cascini seemed to be moving down field with the ball, when Marcelo Gallardo just moved up and clipped Cascini on the head. The two had been going after each other all match and the players had enough. Cascini went to confront Gallardo and Gallardo replied with a head butt to the face. Claudio Martin ejected the players, but the two team still got into a fist fight. Replays show that Gallardo punched Roberto Abbondanzieri. Abbondanzieri was soon bloodied. The teams had to be separated by the police.
Then right before the end of the first half, Ariel Garce committed a terrible tackle on Fabian Vargas. Vargas had the ball and made a move on Garce, but Garce came sliding into Vargas with his studs slamming into Vargas's leg. Martin showed red on that play as well, but it seemed that River only wanted blood instead of the win. Boca would have several chances to stretch their lead in the second half, but were not able to find the back of the River net. In the 78th minute Antonio Barijho did put the ball past Lux into the net, but linesman ruled that Barijho was offside. Then in the 87th minute, Barijho took a free kick from about 25 yard out. As Barijho delivered his kick, Eduardo "Chacho" Coudet ran up to stop the shot. El Chacho who was inside the River penalty area, leaped into the air and knocked the ball out of the air with his arms. Martin witness the event, but did not say a word about the incident and play moved on.
The second leg of the tie will take place next week in El Monumental de Núñez, but Boca fans will not be allowed in the match. River will be severely hurt with the lost of Gallardo and Garce, both starters as well as main producers for Los Millonarios. El Xeneize (Phoenix) will miss Cascini's leadership, but not his terrible temper. River still has an excellent chance of moving onto the finals, but needs to play ball and not get into a hockey match with Boca. However both teams hate each other's existence and that is why we call this meeting a SuperClasico.
BOCA JUNIORS:Roberto Abbondanzieri, José María Calvo, Rolando Schiavi, Nicolás Burdisso, Clemente Rodríguez, Javier Villarreal, Raúl Cascini, Fabián Vargas, Miguel Caneo (carlos Tevez), Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Franco Cangele), Antonio Barijho
RIVER PLATE:Germán Lux, Ariel Garcé, Horacio Ameli, Eduardo Tuzzio, Ricardo Rojas, Javier Mascherano (Rubens Sambueza), Claudio Husain, Luis González (Juan Fernandez), Marcelo Gallardo, Fernando Cavenaghi (Eduardo Coudet), Maximiliano López
GOALS: 1-0, Schiavi (28')
SENT-OFF: Cascini (BJ). Gallardo (RP), Garcé (RP)
Other results
São Paulo (BRA) 0-0 Once Caldas (COL)
Source: soccerage.com, cariverplate.org
