Highlights: Argentine Primera División, Apertura 2010 - Fecha 18

Estudiantes are one game away from the championship after inflicting
an humiliating 0-4 defeat on River Plate.
The two title contenders kicked off simultaneously on Wednesday, Estudiantes made easy work of a potentially tough trip to "El Monumental" to face a resurgent River Plate side, winning 0-4. Vélez Sársfield hosted Huracán who were trapped in a dismal run of form, the home team scored two second half goals through Jonathan Cristaldo to take the title race to the final day in which they will travel to Racing Club and Estudiantes will play Arsenal at home.

The first game of the penultimate round of fixtures saw one of the teams with the worst away records face one of the worst teams in the division. All Boys only had three draws and five defeats from their eight away games while Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata were rock bottom of the division. A 3-1 win for Gimnasia broke their four game losing strak and lifted them off the bottom of the table but not away from the relegation playoff position they have occupied all season.

Godoy Cruz faced Racing Club in an entertaining game between two of the better sides in the tournament. It finished 1-1 but the score should surely have been higher, both teams chose to play open attacking football and had abundant chances to score, Godoy Cruz hit the woodwork twice and Racing Club once, the two goals were both excellent, Jairo Castillo scored a classy opener for the home side before Iván Pillud fired in a piledriver of an equaliser. Racing will be bitterly disappointed that they can now no longer qualify for the Copa Libertadores after Argentina's 5th qualification spot went to their fierce local rivals Independiente after they won the 2010 Copa Sudamericana a couple of hours after the end of this game.

Olimpo faced a tough trip to Rosario to face Newell's Old Boys,after acumulating only one point from their nine away games not many people would have backed Olimpo for the win, however they did win the game 0-1 with a first half goal from Cristian Villanueva.

The outgoing champions Argentinos Juniors lost at home to Gabriel Schürrer's Lanús side and Quilmes found some more much needed points with a 1-0 win against a struggling San Lorenzo side, their third win in five games after their dismal 13 game winless start to the season.  

Arsenal de Sarandí took another massive step towards their best ever finish in the Primera División with a 2-1 win against Colón and Banfield played out a 0-0 draw with Boca Juniors.

Independiente's game against Tigre has been postponed due to their participation in the Copa Sudamericana final on Wednesday.

07-12-10
Gimnasia La Plata 3-1 All Boys
Arsenal 2-1 Colón
08-12-10
River Plate 0-4Estudiantes
Vélez Sársfield 2-0 Huracán
Godoy Cruz 1-1 Racing Club
09-12-10
Newell's Old Boys 0-1 Olimpo
Banfield 0-0 Boca Juniors
Argentinos Juniors 1-2 Lanús
Quilmes 1-0 San Lorenzo
Postponed
Independiente ?-? Tigre


For more South American football highlights, including the Brazilian league, the pick of the rest and international tournaments:

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