An entertaining match last night in Mar del Plata between the Argentine giants Boca Juniors and River Plate provided a glimpse of things to come in the 2010 Apertura. River lifted the Desafio Cup trophy with an energetic second half performance that exposed further Boca’s defensive concerns. Boca allowed ten goals in three matches during the pre-season tournament.
Amidst a great atmosphere and a packed stadium, the clubs featured top personalities and new faces, particularly River who is looking to rebuild everything under new President Daniel Passarella. Boca took the field essentially with its standard line-up, fielding the same veteran group including Palermo, Riquelme, Abbondanzieri, Caceres and Morel. The only new look was Boca’s interesting cross stripe shirt akin to the Swedish flag.
River went ahead early with a counter attack goal from one of its newcomers, Paraguayan Rojas, that rekindled unease about Abbondanzieri. Very recently the Boca keeper, who is rightfully adored by the Xeneize faithful, was negotiating personal terms for a move to Rosario Central. Then he was linked with retirement. But here he was, back in the Boca net, allowing a soft goal. It was his only error on the night, but the nervousness of having Pato in goal going forward is palpable.
Boca attacked and controlled the rest of the first half, achieving a splendid equalizer on a set play with Palermo rising perfectly above the River defense to meet a floating Riquelme cross with a powerful header. Boca pressed ahead on both sides of the half, missing an opportunity to take the lead after Riquelme sent a 20m free kick well over. Thereafter, River began exploiting gaps in the Boca defense, winning the midfield battles. River went ahead with a goal from teenager Funes Mori off another set play, then extended its lead with a beautiful action goal featuring teenager Villalva, who looks incredibly tiny to be among the men on the field. The third goal rattled Boca entirely and they never found a rhythm again.
The impressions from the first meeting between Boca and River in 2010 were mixed: the emergence of Boca’s striker Gaitan, the erosion of Abbondanzieri, the impressive River defender Quiroga, the incredible spring in Riquelme’s step for a guy who rarely runs, the rise of Almeyda as a typical River looking captain, replacing Ortega and Gallardo, though his performance was not as solid as his leadership. Despite the victory, it is more or less the same River, with several open questions and unclear prospects, but surely brighter than last year. Boca needs freshness, as well as a reevaluation of its defensive side, but this was the most lively Riquelme on display in the past ten years. We shall see.
