Boca beat Quilmes 2-0 at La Bombonera to boost its confidence ahead of next Sunday’s “Superclásico”. Emmanuel Gigliotti scored twice, his first from a lobbed pass by Juan Román Riquelme, making his comeback from injury after missing the last four matches.
Boca Juniors, with Juan Román Riquelme joining Silvio Marzolini as the player with most matches played at La Bombonera stadium with 194 appearances, defeated Quilmes 2-0 yesterday in a match for the ninth round of the Initial Tournament with the “Superclásico” against River Plate coming up next week.
Emmanuel Gigliotti scored both goals in the 33rd and 87th minutes for Carlos Bianchi’s side, which accumulated 16 points to be in fourth place, four points behind leader Newell’s Old Boys.
For the first time in the tournament, Riquelme, who returned to the first team after missing four matches due to a left leg injury, and Argentina midfielder Fernando Gago played together in the first team.
In the 33rd, Riquelme showed that his magic is still intact as he received the ball from Juan Sánchez Miño and assisted Gigliotti, who sent the ball home to put the host ahead. After the goal, Boca dominated the game and controlled the midfield with Gago and Riquelme.
Quilmes played a more attacking style in the second half to try to find the equalizer, while Boca played with counter attacks.
Bianchi’s team sealed the victory three minutes before the end of the match, when Gigliotti scored his third goal in the tournament with a header after Sánchez Miño’s cross.
Boca started the tournament with irregular performances, but has now accumulated three matches without defeats. It won five games out of nine.
The host played with: Agustín Orión; Jesús Méndez, Ribair Rodríguez, Claudio Pérez, Nahuel Zárate; Pablo Ledesma, Gago, Sánchez Miño; Riquelme; Juan Manuel Martínez and Gigliotti.
Quilmes’ team was: Sebastián Peratta; Luciano Abecasis, Sebastián Martínez, Alan Alegre, Leonel Bontempo; Matías Morales, Rodrigo Braña, Pablo Garnier, Lucas Godoy; Miguel Caneo; Fernando Telechea.
Next week, Boca will visit River Plate, which last night at press time was playing against Lanús, at the Monumental stadium to play the “Superclásico.”
Also yesterday, Colón had three players sent off in its 1-0 defeat at Tigre, which also had a player dismissed, and the Santa Fe club’s directors had to persuade coach Rubén Forestello not to quit after its fourth successive defeat.
Source: Buenos Aires Herald