Buenos Aires, Argentina, Oct 1: Newell's Old Boys needed only a 0-0 draw on Sunday against Tigre to remain first place in Argentina's first division.
Boca Juniors and Velez Sarsfield, two teams which could have moved into top spot with victories, failed to produce the results needed to unseat Newell's.
Velez lost 4-2 at home against Colon, and Boca was held to a 1-1 draw at home by San Martin of San Juan, one of the league's weakest teams.
In Sunday's other matches, River Plate beat Arsenal 4-0, and Independiente defeated Union 2-1.
Newell's has 19 points from nine matches, two ahead of Velez, Boca and Racing.
Boca's draw will keep the heat on coach Julio Falcioni. It was a poor match at Boca's La Bombonera stadium with Mauro Bogado scoring for San Martin from the penalty spot in the 34th. Rolando Schiavi equalized 10 minutes later for Boca.
Emanuel Gigliotti scored twice and Jorge Achucarro and Facundo Curuchet scored the other goals in Colon's rout of Velez. Alejandro Cabral and Lucas Pratto scored for Velez.
The big winner on Sunday was newly promoted River Plate, which has struggled since returning to the first division this season. Rogelio Funes Mori scored twice, with Leonardo Ponzio and Carlos Luna also added goals.
River Plate has 12 points and is hovering near the middle of the standings, which should bring some relief to coach Matias Almeyda.
In other weekend results: Quilmes 1, Belgrano 1; All Boys 2, Lanus 1; Godoy Cruz 1, Estudiantes 0; Rafaela 5, Argentinos Juniors 3; Racing 4, San Lorenzo 0.
Racing scored two goals -- Sebastian Saja and Javier Campora -- and got two more from own-goals by San Lorenzo.
Racing and San Lorenzo are regarded as two of Argentina's "Five Big Clubs," but they are headed in different directions. Racing is two points off the lead, and San Lorenzo has only nine points and is lodged near the bottom of the standings.
