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Latin American roundup Boca Juniors retains lead; red cards abound in Brazil
RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) -- Ariel Ortega returned to Argentine football in style at the weekend, helping River Plate to a 4-1 win over Rosario Central. Brazil saw a rash of red cards, three matches producing nine between them, and an injury to veteran striker Romario, which is believed not to be serious. In Uruguay, Javier Chevanton scored four goals in Danubio's 5-0 hammering of Rocha, while in Colombia veteran goalkeeper Rene Higuita missed a penalty for Real Cartegena. ARGENTINA River Plate, helped by a majestic performance from Ariel Ortega on his return to Argentine soccer, beat Rosario Central 4-1 in the Apertura championship. Colombian Juan Pablo Angel scored twice, the other goals coming from Diego Placente and 18-year-old Javier Saviola. Rosario Central finished with nine men after having Miguel Caceres and Diego Erroz sent off. River is second, trailing arch-rivals Boca Juniors on goal difference. Both teams have ten points from four games. Boca won 3-1 at Newell's Old Boys, the goals coming from Juan Roman Riquelme, Hugo Ibarra and Martin Palermo. Riquelme has recently returned to the side following the end of a dispute over his contract. BRAZIL There was a rash of sendings-off in the Joao Havelange Cup, which has replaced the Brazilian championship this year following a legal dispute, with three matches producing nine red cards. Two players from each side were dismissed as Ponte Preta beat Atletico Mineiro 3-2 and one from each went in Gremio' s 2-1 win at Corinthians. Palmeiras beat Santos 3-2 away despite finishing with nine men after having two dismissed while the opponents also had a player sent off. Goias leads the competition despite a 2-0 defeat at Sport Recife. However, the standings give little real indication of who is doing well because of a chaotic fixture list. Some of the 25 teams have played only five games, others have played up to ten. Fluminense, which would have been in the second division if the Brazilian championship had been played, moved into second place after a 2-0 win over Juventude. The top 12 teams qualify for the knockout stage, where they are joined by three teams from the second division and the winners of the third. Vasco da Gama striker Romario limped off at halftime with a back injury against Portuguesa but said he would be fit for Brazil's World Cup qualifier against Bolivia at the weekend. URUGUAY Striker Javier Chevanton scored four goals in Danubio's 5-0 win over Rocha at the weekend. Defensor Sporting lost its 100 percent record in the second stage of the tournament when they were held to a 1-1 d raw at home by Cerro. They still have a one point lead over Penarol, who did not play, and an unbeaten run of 18 games. COLOMBIA Veteran goalkeeper Rene Higuita missed a penalty in Real Cartegena's goaless draw at Millonarios. Higuita fired wide in the 37th but made some important saves at the other end to secure a point for his team. Independiente Medellin had two players plus coach Juan Jose Pelaez sent off in a 2-0 defeat at Quindio. America, which beat Tolima 3-2, lead the second stage of the championship. MEXICO The Mexican Invierno (Winter) championship's last two unbeaten records fell as both Irapuato and UAG were beaten. Newly promoted Irapuato went down 2-1 at Puebla, and UAG lost 3-0 at home to Morelia. Guadalajara, one of the country's most important clubs, continued a miserable run when it lost 2-1 to a Pachuca team reduced to ten men after 28 minutes following the sending-off of Marco Garces. The defeat left it rooted to the bottom of group four with one point from five games, making it an unhappy debut for coach Jesus Bracamontes. CHILE Universidad de Chile increased its lead when it beat Concepcion 2-1 and second-placed Colo Colo were surprisingly held at home 1-1 by Huachipato. Universidad de Chile, which came from behind with goals by Rodrigo Barrera and Pedro Gonzalez, opened up a three-point lead as the tournament approaches its halfway mark. Universidad Catolica, the third of Chile's big three, slipped to fourth place when it suffered a 3-1 defeat at home to O'Higgins. ECUADOR Olmeda, from the provincial capital of Riobamba, stayed top of the championship's second stage with a 1-0 win over Tecnico Universitario. Liga de Quito and army club El Nacional drew their derby 2-2, while Emelec beat Barcelona 1-0 in the Guayaquil derby. PERU Brazilian striker Eduardo Esidio scored a hat trick as champion Universitario hammered UPAO 5-0, taking his tally to nine goals in six games in the second stage of the championship. Universitario, winner of the tournament's opening stage, remained second, three points behind Sporting Cristal, which beat Melgar 2-1 away with goals by Roberto Silva and another Brazilian, Palhinha. BOLIVIA Provincial club Guabira leads the second stage of the championship with a maximum nine points from three games after a 3-0 win at champions Blooming. Union Central moved into second place with a 2-1 win at Wilstermann, which won the first stage of the tournament. PARAGUAY Olimpia leads the second stage of the championship despite losing its 100 percent record in a 1-1 draw with Sol de America.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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