River Plate wins derby against Boca, revives Argentina soccer tourney

River Plate's clear 3-1 Sunday victory over cross-town rival Boca Juniors has reinvigorated Argentina's opening tournament, bringing River only one point from the leader.

In front of a crowd of 65,000 people who filled Buenos Aires's Monumental Stadium, bringing in 1.127 million Argentine pesos (365,000 U.S. dollars), Daniel Passarella-managed River robbed Boca of its 22-game winning streak.

Boca, managed by Ricardo La Volpe, who left his job as Mexico's national team manager to take this job, remains leader of the tournament with 22 points, although the team still has to complete a game in the city of La Plata, with Gimnasia, which Boca was losing 0-1 with half the game played.

River now has 21 league points, Estudiantes is in third with 19 and Arsenal in fourth with 18.

After a 2-1 Sunday win over Santa Fe, Racing Club is now in fifth place with 17 points.

River Plate, also known as millonarios (the millionaires), sustained their victory thanks to the work of Fernando Belluschi, and French-born striker Higuain, who scored goals in minutes 29 and 53. His partner in the forward position, Ernesto Farias, scored in minute 68.

Rodrigo Palacio spared Boca's blushes and made them briefly equal with a 31st-minute goal.

Source: Xinhua