Boca slips to third after defeat

Published Jun. 18, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Reigning champion Boca Juniors slipped from first to third position after the penultimate round of matches in Argentina's Clausura championship after a 3-0 loss to Arsenal at La Bombonera on Sunday.

Arsenal moved into a share of first place on 35 points with Tigre, which had a 1-0 win over Velez on Saturday.

Boca is two points adrift in third spot going into the last round of games next weekend after leading the championship for most of the season.

In other matches Sunday, Argentinos had a 1-0 win over Newell's, which finished the game with seven men on the field, Rafaela beat Racing 4-2 and Independiente had a 0-0 draw with San Lorenzo.

In the key match of the day, Arsenal opened the scoring in the 2nd minute from a near post header by Emilio Zelaya.

Boca failed to respond and Arsenal deservedly extended its lead seven minutes before halftime, when Luciano Leguizamon got his first of the game with a tap in following a swift counterattack.

Boca brought on Pablo Mouche in the 40th to try to force the pace of the game, but Arsenal was dangerous on the counter and Leguizamon pounced on a loose defensive header from Rolando Schiavi in the 56th, drove towards goal and chipped the ball over goalkeeper Agustin Orion.

Boca's position got worse when Franco Sosa was sent off in the 85th.

The famous Boca Juniors club is aiming to win consecutive domestic titles and is also still alive in the Copa Libertadores - taking a 2-0 lead into the semifinal return leg against Universidad de Chile on Thursday. It is also in the final of the Copa Argentina.

Newell's ended its game against Argentinos with just seven men on the field after four of its players were sent off, while Argentinos had two players given red cards.

Juan Jose Morales got the only goal of the game for Argentinos in the 73rd.

San Lorenzo's failure to win means it is in the automatic relegation place and needs to win next weekend and hope others slip up.

Rafaela moved above San Lorenzo in the relegation league with its win.

Cesar Carignano opened the scoring in the 36th from the penalty spot, before goals from Bruno Zuculini and Lucas Castro turned the game in Racing's favor.

Alexis Castro equalized in the 56th, Carignano added his second in the 65th and Federico Gonzalez got the fourth for Rafaela in the 71st.

Colon plays Godoy Cruz on Monday in the final match in the round of fixtures.

Next weekend, Tigres faces Independiente, Arsenal plays Belgrano and Boca travels to Newell's.