Boca win SuperClasico
May 4th 2008 23:38
Battaglia celebrates his goal. His header was enough to grant Boca a huge win
The Superclasico has gone to Boca Juniors after they defeated arch-nemesis River Plate 1-0 in front of a packed house in La Bombonera. Sebastian Battaglia, with a stunning header, scored the only goal in the first half.
Boca come out desperate to attack. The first thirty seconds of the match saw the ball already camped in River's side of the field. Boca wingers Maidana and Monzon were eager to penetrate out wide. All this a clear signal. Boca wanted the win to keep alive their hopes of lifting the Clausura championship. Most importantly though, Boca needed a victory against their deadly rivals who have dominated proceedings recently.
River on the other hand came out the more relaxed. They controlled possession casually yet securely. Their game was simple. Four players across the back and when the times came, counter attack.
Ortega and Buonanotte controlled things for River but they too became unsettled by Boca's eagerness to win the ball in crucial areas of play.
Boca's attack was fast but insecure. Not even Riquelme cound control the tempo of the game. Boca pair Datalo and Ledesma were playing the match as if their lives depended on it. Who doesn't in the Superclasico?
The Boca faithful sensed something was near. Palermo's beautiful through ball found Palacio in space. He looked up to find River's goalkeeper fearing the worst. Palacio strikes low and hard but a brilliant save from Carrizo grants River a new leace of life in this derby as the ball goes out for a corner.
Riquelme delivers the cross that would allow Battaglia to become apart of something special.
The Boca captain escapes Ponzio's marking and delivers a sublime header to send the home fans crazy. Boca was winning the SuperClasico and Battaglia was the man of the moment.
Time seemed to fly by and Boca were looking dominant. The goal allowed them to breath easier and control the ball with skill and accuracy. Riquelme become the norm of the Boca attack and was now beginning to be a mass concern in River's defence. Palacio's presence inside the box was causing mass headache for the River faithful in the stands and on the field. River Plate were feeling the squeeze.
River needed to modify their game big time. The likes of Ortega and Sanchez getting the ball for River was as seldom as Amy Winehouse saying yes to rehab. Despite their efforts, River still lacked life when on the ball. Ortega was out of rythem and had trouble deciding whether to attack or keep a hold of possession. All was starting to fall apart for River and Boca were enjoying every minute of it.
Boca goalkeeper Caranta hardly saw any action in the first half such was his teams dominance. Half-time approached and Boca were looking very comfortable indeed.
Nothing changed in the second half. River, despite controlling possession well, never really took charge of a match that was increasingly playing into Boca's hands.
Although Simeone's men looked more intent and up tempo, Ishia's men handled the situation with great composure and it seemed likely that this Superclasico was heading to the Boca faithful.
Full-time was now drawing near and Boca could smell the scent of joy and pleasure that comes with a victory over their arch rivals. In the end Boca were left to celebrate a victory based purely on character and opportunism in a game that was always going to be played at a high intensity. Their determination in both attack and defence served them well over River, who in the end lacked the necessary skill and commitment that has seem them do so well in the Clausura this season.
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