Juan Román Riquelme had another fantastic performance in Boca Juniors’s 4-2 victory over Arsenal de Sarandí. The home fans chanted in support of the playmaker during the whole match and requested the renewal of his contract.
Boca Juniors, with its captain Juan Román Riquelme as its key player, clinched its second straight win after a 4-2 victory over Arsenal de Sarandí yesterday at La Bombonera stadium in a game for the 16th round of the Final Tournament that put the team coached by Carlos Bianchi close to the South American Cup qualifying spots.
Cristian Erbes, Riquelme, Nicolás Colazo and Emanuel Gigliotti netted for the hosts, while Mariano Echeverría and Julio Furch scored for Arsenal.
Before the kick-off, the home fans welcomed Riquelme with an ovation, but then they also chanted in support of the Arsenal’s coach Martín Palermo, who is the leading goalscorer in the history of Boca with 236, and his assistants Roberto Abbondanzieri and Rolando Schiavi, both former Boca players.
Bianchi’s team was the best side and showed one of its best performances in the season. It took the lead quickly when Riquelme passed the ball to Erbes and the midfielder entered to the box scoring with a lob shot before the first minute of play.
Despite the shocking early goal, Arsenal answered with the equalizer in the 16th when defender Mariano Echeverría took a rebound inside the box and sent it home with a fierce shot.
Boca continued controlling the ball and it could have extended the lead in many opportunities, but goalkeeper Cristian Campestrini had a solid night, although he conceded four goals. Riquelme finally put his team ahead again before the end of the first half with a penalty.
After the goal, the fans chanted “Riquelme will not leave, Riquelme will not leave,” supporting the playmaker whose contract ends in June. Officials have not decided yet if they will offer him a new one.
In the second half, Boca hit again in the 54th when Colazo scored with a header after Emanuel Insúa’s cross. Striker Gigliotti netted his sixth goal in the season five minutes before the end of the match with a penalty. Forward Furch pulled one back for Arsenal in the 89th for the final 4-2 result.
Bianchi’s team was: Agustín Orión; Hernán Grana, Daniel Díaz, Juan Forlín, Insúa; Erbes, Federico Bravo, Colazo; Riquelme; Juan Manuel Martínez and Gigliotti.
The visiting side was: Campestrini; Hugo Nervo, Echeverría, Diego Braghieri, Damián Pérez; Franco Zuculini, Iván Marcone, Matías Zaldivia; Martín Rolle; Furch and Emilio Zelaya.
Herald with agencies