Coaches at Boca, River under pressure

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) -Boca Juniors coach Alfio Basile and Nestor Gorosito at River Plate could be on the way out after a miserable start to the season for two of Argentina's most high-profile clubs.

Both teams lost over the weekend, are far down in the standings, and last week each of them were knocked out of the Copa Sudamericana, the continent's No. 2 club tournament.

Basile, Argentina's former national team coach, is in his second stint with Boca. He offered to resign on Monday but team manager Carlos Bianchi declined to accept his resignation, the team said in a brief statement.

"Basile has the experience,'' said club vice president Juan Carlos Crespi, speaking to reporters after Bianchi and Basile held a late-night meeting at a local hotel. "He has the players to turn this around and be champions.''

Boca lost over the weekend 3-2 to Godoy Cruz in Boca's Bombonera stadium, where the team has yet to win this season.

Basile won five titles with Boca in his last stint with the team. This time he may not have the talent to turn things around and there are also rumors of division within the squad, with two factions - one supporting forward Martin Palermo and the other midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme.

River Plate lost 1-0 at Arsenal over the weekend, leaving the club with only four points after five matches.

Unlike Basile, Gorosito has been on the job for nine months. River Plate fans shouted for him to resign during the Arsenal match.

Added to the failure of Boca and River Plate is the struggle of Argentina's national team to qualify for next year's World Cup in South Africa. With one round of qualifiers remaining next month, Argentina, coached by Diego Maradona is in danger of missing its first World Cup since 1970.