Chavez scored late winner to sink Boca Juniors

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) -Cristian Chavez scored a 90th-minute winner as Godoy Cruz beat Boca Juniors 3-2 in a seesawing encounter Sunday at the Bombonera stadium.

Matias Jara and Federico Higuain scored in the sixth and 77th minutes for Godoy, while Sebastian Battaglia and Gary Medel scored 10 minutes either side of halftime for Boca.

Medel was sent off in the 76th.

Boca's fierce rival River Plate also lost Sunday, going down 1-0 away to Arsenal de Sarandi on a penalty from Cristian Alvarez in the 9th.

In the day's other results, Newell's Old Boys had a 2-0 away win over Lanus, while San Lorenzo and Racing Club drew 0-0.

After five matches, Estudiantes leads the Apertura 2009 table with 13 points, ahead of Rosario Central on goal difference. Defending champion Velez Sarsfield sits in third position, two points behind.

Boca and River have endured miserable campaigns in the Apertura season so far. Boca is 13th, with five points, while River dropped to 15th, on four.

Boca got off to a terrible start against Godoy when Julio Caceres gifted a backpass to Jara, who rounded Roberto Abbondanzieri to open the scoring.

Battaglia equalized for Boca with a header that was adjudged to have crossed the line after a scramble in the Godoy box. Medel put Boca ahead in the second half, heading in a rebound after Godoy goalkeeper Nelson Ibanez could only palm out Federico Insua's swerving shot.

After Boca was reduced to 10 men, Claudio Morel fouled Godoy substitute Martin Aguirre in the box and Higuain converted the penalty to level the scores with just over 10 minutes remaining.

Chavez stunned the home support with the winner in the final seconds of normal time, finishing a counterattack by tapping home an inch-perfect cross from Jara.

Boca was knocked out of the Copa Sudamericana in the preliminary round midweek and is still looking for a first home win in the league this season.

River has fared even worse. Also knocked out of the Copa Sudamericana at the first hurdle this week, coach Nestor Gorosito was placed under further pressure on Sunday after Maximiliano Coronel brought Alexander Medina down in the box against Arsenal. Alvarez scored from the ensuing penalty.

Meanwhile, Jorge Achucarro in the 21st and Antonio Boghossian in the 54th got the goals for Newell's in an impressive away win over Lanus.

In the day's other match, San Lorenzo held on for a goalless draw against Racing despite playing with 10 men following a second yellow card shown to Aureliano Torres in the 35th.

In other results: Huracan 1, Estudiantes 4; Rosario Central 0, Banfield 0; Colon 3, Chacarita Juniors 1; Gimnasia y Esgrima 2, Tigre 0; Argentinos Juniors 2, Atletico Tucuman 1; Independiente 2, Velez Sarsfield 2.