| Teenager Buonanotte scores to keep River top |
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| Monday, 07 April 2008 | |
 BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Teenager Diego Buonanotte gave River Plate a 1-0 win at titleholders Lanus to remain at the top of the Argentine championship on Sunday. The 1.60 metre-tall player, who is regarded as another promising Argentine prospect, picked up the ball on the edge of the area, turned, held off a challenge before scoring with an angled shot in the 68th minute. River, coached by former Argentina captain Diego Simeone, lead the Clausura championship with 21 points from nine games. Lanus are 17th with only seven points. There was some confusion as to who was in second place. The Argentina Football Association Web site (www.afa.org.ar) put Boca Juniors second with 17 points ahead of Estudiantes on goal difference. However, Argentine media had Estudiantes in second place with 20 points, having included the points from their match with Racing Club. The game, played two weeks ago, was called off in the second half due to a crowd riot with Estudiantes 2-1 ahead. South American champions Boca were held 1-1 at home by Banfield in a match played on Saturday. Midfielder Luciano Civelli put Banfield ahead in the 17th minute and striker Martin Palermo headed Boca level in the 58th minute with his fifth goal of the championship. Estudiantes were held 0-0 by Arsenal. Juan Mensequez scored a hat-trick to help San Lorenzo win 5-1 at Tigre for their fifth domestic win in a row to climb to fifth. Gimnasia-La Plata scored twice in injury-time to beat Olimpo 4-2 in a relegation battle after the visitors had scored a last minute equaliser. Diego Alonso twice put Gimnasia ahead but Olimpo replied through Jose Ulloa and Diego Barrado, who converted a 90th minute penalty. However, Federico Dominguez fired Gimnasia back in front one minute later and Roberto Salvatierra scored again in the fifth minute of injury time. (Reporting by Luis Ampuero; Writing by Brian Homewood; Editing by Greg Stutchbury) |
