Boca Juniors Tops Annual Table After 1-0 River Plate Win
A 27th-minute header gave Boca a narrow victory at La Bombonera, securing their spot in next year's Copa Libertadores.
By Elena Perry ·
Boca Juniors defeated River Plate 1-0 on Sunday at La Bombonera, a result that places the team in first place in the Argentine football annual standings with 60 points. The single goal, a header by Lautaro Di Lollo in the 27th minute, was the decisive play in the match.
Referee Nicolás Ramírez’s officiating dictated the flow of the game. He sent off River Plate defender Lucas Martínez Quarta in the 9th minute for a foul against the attacking side. This early red card left the visitors with ten players for the majority of the contest. Tensions escalated in the 79th minute when Ramírez also expelled River goalkeeper Gonzalo Montiel, leaving the team with nine men on the field.
The win allows Boca to lead the accumulated table by one point over Rosario Central. The victory also guarantees the team direct qualification for the upcoming Copa Libertadores. If Boca wins their final match against Defensa y Justicia, they will secure the league title.
River Plate, currently sitting on 23 points in Zona B, must beat Aldosivi in Mar del Plata during the final matchday to advance to the Clausura finals. Boca’s schedule remains tight, with a Copa Argentina semifinal against Banfield set for November 14 and a Copa Sudamericana final against Atlético Mineiro in Barranquilla on November 21.
