Argentine League Roundup, Aug. 21

Argentine League Roundup, Aug. 21

Published Aug. 22, 2010 10:57 a.m. ET

Velez Sarsfield's 2-0 win over defending champion Argentinos Juniors on Saturday lifted it to the top of the Argentine Apertura standings.

Leandro Somoza hit the opener from a 71st-minute penalty and Santiago Silva added the second following a corner in the 76th as Velez climbed above Estudiantes and Banfield after three games. Estudiantes and Banfield drew 0-0 on Friday.

"The table says (we're the best team)," Somoza said. "We've got to keep going, we can't be satisfied, we've got to keep advancing."

Quilmes drew 1-1 with Lanus earlier Saturday, while Godoy Cruz had a 1-0 win against Olimpo and Racing missed the chance to join Velez at the top following a 2-1 loss at home to San Lorenzo.

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On Friday, Newell's Old Boys had a 2-0 home win against Tigre.

Four other matches on Sunday include River Plate vs. Independiente and All Boys vs. Boca Juniors.

Velez struggled to break down a tight Argentinos defense in the first half at Jose Amalfitani Stadium.

In a match of few chances, Velez went closest when Emiliano Papa shot over in the eighth minute. Victor Zapata's shot was saved by Argentinos goalkeeper Nicolas Navarro in the 16th.

Argentinos striker Nicolas Blandi turned into space in the box in the 40th but his shot went wide.

The match turned when Velez was awarded a penalty for Gonzalo Prosperi's raised challenge on Juan Manuel Martinez. Somoza sent Navarro the wrong way from the spot.

Silva connected with a corner at the back post to drive in the second goal.

Argentinos finished with 10 men after Santiago Gentiletti was sent off with just over 10 minutes remaining.

In the early match, Santiago Salcedo equalized for Lanus in the 13th minute after Juan Morales scored a seventh-minute opener for newly promoted Quilmes.

Later in the day, Godoy Cruz got its first win of the tournament after Ariel Rojas followed up a Nicolas Olmedo shot to score the winning goal against Olimpo in the 42nd minute.

Elsewhere, San Lorenzo took the lead against Racing when Guillermo Pereyra curled in a shot from the edge of the area in the 20th minute. Pablo Luguercio pulled Racing level with a low drive from long range that went in off the post in the 56th minute, but Sebastian Balsas scored with a looping header in the 86th to give San Lorenzo the win.

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