On September 28 2008 newly promoted provincial minnows Godoy Cruz hosted Boca Juniors in the 8th round of the Apertura 2008 tournament. The home team were struggling to adapt to life in the Primera, they had lost 4 of their opening 7 games and looked in danger of reliving the relegation that came at the end of their only previous season in the Primera División in 2006-07.
Nearly everyone expected a routine win for Boca Juniors, who at that time were still the strongest and most consistent team in the league. When Leandro Gracián scored for the visitors shortly before half time nobody was surprised.
What happened next can be seen as a turning point for the Mendoza outfit, veteran Colombian Jairo Castillo got one back before half time and after the break Leonardo Sigali scored to give the home side the lead, then Castillo netted twice more for the most famous hat-trick of his career.
This 4-1 result against one of the giants of Argentine football seemed to give the team the confidence to beat the bigger teams. In the remainder of the Apertura El Tomba also recorded a dramatic last minute win against Estudiantes de La Plata and an impressive away win against River Plate.
By the end of the Clausura they had accumulated sufficient points to avoid relegation. The following season they consolidated their position and managed to finish 3rd in the Clausura. In the 2 years since this game Godoy Cruz have firmly established themselves as one of the strongest sides in the Argentine top flight.
For more great games involving South American teams, check out the rest of the Partidazo series.
Another one to add to partidazo:
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