COPA LIGA PROFESIONAL DE FUTBOL
Newell’s Old Boys 0
Boca Juniors 2
🏟️ Estadio Marcelo Bielsa, Rosario
Newell’s Old Boys were left frustrated by Boca Juniors in their first home game for 8 months.
In truth, La Lepra looked in control for 75 minutes at the Estadio Marcelo Bielsa despite going behind just before half-time.
After hundreds of Newell’s fans welcomed the team outside the stadium, it looked like the display of colour in Rosario’s Parque Independence had put fire in the bellies of the team in red and black.
They started on the front foot, pressing Boca Juniors high up the pitch and playing without the fear that sometimes was on show in their opening day defeat to Talleres. Boca looked very much shook as Newell’s funnelled the ball down the right-flank to the threatening Angelo Gabrielli who was their outstanding performer in the first-half.
Although Newell’s enjoyed the majority of possession early on, Boca looked the more potent side when the chance arose for them to attack. Alan Aguerre made an outstanding save from Carlos Tévez’s header after 12 minutes – the first sign that Boca could bite if provoked. Soon after, there was some muted calls for a penalty from Newell’s when Campuzano appeared to handle the ball in the box, after it had first cannoned off his leg. The referee waved play on.
Newell’s continued to enjoy the majority of possession until Pablo Pérez gave the ball away cheaply in his own half on 40 minutes. It allowed Eduardo Salvio to play Boca captain Carlos Tévez in. Tévez rounded Alan Aguerre and slotted into an empty net. It was a gift for Boca and Pérez knew it.
Before the half-time whistle was blown, Tévez clashed with Alan Aguerre and Aguerre was replaced by substitute keeper Ramiro Macagno after failing to recover from a heavy blow.
The opening 30 minutes of the second-half played out much like the first half. Newell’s enjoyed long spells of possession but Boca were the more threatening side when they managed to win the ball back.
Stand-in keeper Macagno was tested by Frank Fabra and Sebastián Villa early in the second half but he managed to keep the score at 0-1, saving well from Villa on 58 minutes.
As the second-half progressed, Newell’s got weary and Boca made it 0-2 from a corner on 75 minutes. Lisandro López powered a header at goal and although Tévez attempted to get the final touch, the goal was awarded to the Boca defender. The second goal killed the game.
Frank Kudelka made a triple substitution, bringing on Sordo, Castro and Cacciabue but it was too little, too late. Macagno had to be at his best to stop Boca scoring a third and Capaldo was unlucky to hit the post with five minutes to spare.
The final whistle offered respite to Newell’s even though they had looked good for a potential equaliser up to López’s goal.
Kudelka’s side now face a crucial away game at Lanús on Saturday. If they fail to get three points in that game, any sort of success in the newly created Copa Liga Profesional de Fútbol looks highly unlikely for Newell’s Old Boys.
