Boca stays in chase with 3-1 victory over Racing

Paredes' two goals were the difference in his team's victory over Racing Club.

Marcos Brindicci/Reuters

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) -- Boca Juniors defeated Racing Club 3-1 on Sunday to keep the popular Buenos Aires club in the chase for the Argentine first-division title.

Leandro Paredes scored in both halves and Matias Caruzzo added one early in the first half at Boca's La Bombonera stadium. Gabriel Hauche scored late for Racing.

Boca now has 30 points in 17 matches, five points behind league-leader Velez Sarsfield.

Velez Sarsfield defeated All Boys 2-0 on Sunday to maintain its position atop the league with only two rounds to go in the first half of Argentina's split season.

Lanus drew 0-0 with Estudiantes and trails Velez by two points in second place.

Caruzzo gave Boca a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute. Connecting from a corner, Carozzo put a perfectly placed header into the far corner - off the inside of the post and behind Racing keeper Sebastian Saja.

Paredes made it 2-0 in the 38th, scoring on a ground-hugging shot from 20 meters (yards) that beat Saja to his left.

Boca had three or four good chances before Paredes scored again on a free kick in the 70th.

Hauche scored for Racing in the 84th, chipping in a short-range header.

The victory also keeps Boca in the race for a place in the Copa Libertadores, Latin America's No. 1 club tournament.

Despite the victory, Boca coach Julio Faliconi seems unlikey to return when the first half of the season ends in two weeks. Falcioni has led Boca to a league title and took the team to a runner-up finish last season in the Copa Libertadores, but he has been unpopular with fans for his conservative style of play.

Velez waited until late to pick up its 2-0 victory at All Boys and move clear at the top. Lucas Pratto scored in the 86th and Facundo Ferreyra added another in injury time.

In another Sunday match, Silvio Gonzalez and Ruben Botta scored first-half goals in Tigre's 2-0 victory against Godoy Cruz.

In Saturday results: Independiente 2, River Plate 2; Union 2, Newell's Old Boys 2; St. Martin 1, Belgrano 1; Argentinos Juniors 1, San Lorenzo 2.

On Monday: Quilmes vs. Arsenal; Atletico Rafaela vs. Colon.

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