Fecha 15 Clausura 2011 Argentina

Details of the 15th round of games in the Clausura 2011 tournament.

All of the video highlights are available by scrolling down to the Results section and clicking on the red scores.

Preview

Match reports

Santiago Silva scored a magnificent goal for Vélez,
then followed it up with another one of his
irritating choreographed celebrations.

In the opening game Newell's Old Boys broke their five game losing streak with a 1-0 win against All Boys, who remain one win short of ensuring that they avoid finishing in the automatic relegation places. Veteran Newell's defender Rolando Schiavi headed the decisive goal from a corner kick after 28 minutes of play and then the home side held on to record their first clean sheet in 18 matches to take the three points.

Godoy Cruz missed their chance to open a two point lead at the top of the championship after a hard earned 1-1 draw at Banfield. Jorge Achucarro opened the scoring for "el taladro" in the first half and Leonardo Sigali equalised for Godoy Cruz near the hour mark but got himself sent off only 10 minutes later meaning that El Tomba had to play the last 20 minutes a man down but they held on to the draw to move level with Velez at the top.

In the opening game on Saturday Silvio Romero scored a hat-trick as Lanús battered Tigre 0-3 at "El Monumental de Victoria" to move to within a point of the leaders although Vélez had yet to play their 15th fixture. Tigre remain precariously close to the relegation playoff positions.

The next gane featured two teams both on 22 points five points behind the leaders. Hosts Argentinos Juniors had the best defensive record in the Clausura but had dropped far too many points by drawing half of their opening 14 games. The visitors Olimpo started the day in 4th position but occupied the last relegation playoff position. The game looked as if it was going to end in a stalemate but Martín Aguirre bagged an 84th minute winner for the visitors to move them within two points of the leaders and more importantly out of the relegation places.

Estudiantes looked to be cruising to victory over the only other team with a comparably poor recent run of form after going 0-2 up against Huracán within the first half hour however the game had to be abandoned after rioting amongst the Huracán fans.The suspension of the game looks to have cost Estudiantes their first win in 12 matches and the majority of Argentine football supporters would like to see Huracán severely punished by AFA as a result.

In the late game on Saturday Antonio Mohamed masterminded a 3-1 win for Independiente against his former team Colón. Patricio Rodríguez had another inspirational game setting up the first goal for Facundo Parra and scoring a magnificent individual goal for the two goal lead. The only highlight for Colón fans was yet another goal for veteran striker and club legend Esteban Fuertes but the comically bad defending that led to Independiente's 3rd goal will be hard to forget.

In the early kick-off on Sunday Quilmes kept their slim survival hopes alive with a 2-0 win against Racing Club. Quilmes had to wait until the second half to take the lead when Martín Cauteruccio scored the opening goal with a quality chest control and half volley then Miguel Caneo made sure of the win with a strike from outside the penalty area.

Vélez established a 3 point lead at the top of the division with a comfortable 2-0 win against Gimnasia who dropped back into the automatic relegation places by virtue of the fact that the Huracán fans got their game suspended which improved their points average. Santiago Silva scored a wonderful opening goal in the first half but Vélez had to wait until late in the game to score their second and make sure of the points when Maxi Moralez scored an 81st minute penalty.

River Plate needed to win their game against San Lorenzo to avoid spending the week in the relegation places and after a dominant first half display featuring a classy back-heel goal from Leandro Caruzo they seemed to be on their way towards the win they needed however their goalkeeper Juan Pablo Carrizo fumbled Jonathan Ferarri's long range shot into the net to level the scores at 1-1 meaning that River now only have four games left to save themselves from having to face a tricky relegation playoff.

In the last game of the weekend Arsenal and Boca Juniors played out an entertaining 2-2 draw. Mauro Obolo headed the first goal to give the home side a half-time lead but Boca fought back in the second half from a Lucás Viatri header. Lisandro Lopez re-established Arsenal's one goal lead on the hour with the 3rd header of the game but Boca levelled again with an 81st minute goal from Pablo Mouche.

Results

20-05-11
Newell's Old Boys	1-0	All Boys
Banfield	1-1	Godoy Cruz
21-05-11
Tigre	0-3	Lanús
Argentinos Juniors	0-1	Olimpo
Huracán	Suspended	Estudiantes
Independiente	3-1	Colón
22-05-11
Quilmes	2-0	Racing Club
Vélez Sársfield	2-0	Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP)
River Plate	1-1	San Lorenzo
Arsenal	2-2	Boca Juniors

Positions

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Vélez Sársfield	15	9	3	3	29	14	+15	30
2	Godoy Cruz	15	8	3	4	27	22	+5	27
3	Lanús	15	7	5	3	21	12	+9	26
4	Olimpo	15	7	4	4	26	20	+6	25
5	River Plate	15	6	5	4	12	11	+1	23
6	Independiente	15	5	7	3	22	17	+5	22
7	Racing	15	7	1	7	21	18	+3	22
8	Argentinos Juniors	15	5	7	3	12	9	+3	22
9	Boca Juniors	15	6	4	5	18	17	+1	22
10	San Lorenzo	15	5	5	5	17	13	+4	20
11	Tigre	15	5	5	5	20	21	−1	20
12	Colón	15	6	2	7	18	22	−4	20
13	Estudiantes	14	5	4	5	14	15	−1	19
14	Banfield	15	5	4	6	16	20	−4	19
15	All Boys	15	5	4	6	11	15	−4	19
16	Quilmes	15	4	4	7	20	23	−3	16
17	Arsenal	15	3	6	6	20	21	−1	15
18	Gimnasia (La Plata)	15	3	6	6	15	20	−5	15
19	Huracán	14	2	5	7	14	27	−13	11
20	Newell's Old Boys	15	3	2	10	14	30	−16	11