Buenos Aires, Argentina, Feb. 13 : Racing Club and Velez Sarsfield, the clubs expected to challenge favorites Boca Juniors for the Argentine Clausura football title, both played out draws in Sunday matches.
Racing drew 0-0 against Tigre, and Velez Sarsfield drew 1-1 with Godoy Cruz.
Boca Juniors got off to a winning start on Friday to open the new season, defeating Olimpo 2-0. Also Sunday, Rafaela opened with a victory, defeating Banfield 3-0, while Argentinos Juniors and Union played out a 0-0 draw.
Tigre had the edge in the match and Nelson Javier Carrasco had a chance for the winner in the 84th minute, but shot over the crossbar from close range. Racing's Giovanni Moreno also had an opening to win it in the 89th, but his chip at an open net missed by inches.
Mauro Obolo gave Velez a 1-0 lead in the 16th, but Facundo Castillion equalized in the 25th.Rafaela was led by Dario Gandin, who scored in the 60th and again in second-half injury time against Banfield. Matias Fissore score the other in the 16th for Rafaela.
Boca won the Apertura title in December — the first half of Argentina's split season — and most are picking the Buenos Aires club to win the Clausura, which opened Friday. Dario Cvitanich and Pablo Mouche scored for Boca on Friday.
On Saturday San Martin defeated Independiente 1-0, Estudiantes drew 1-1 with Newell's Old Boys, and Belgrano and All Boys drew 0-0.
On Monday, Colon faces Arsenal.
Hoping to return to the first division, River Plate defeated Chacarita 2-0 on Sunday to move into a share of first place in the second division. Damian Toledo conceded an own-goal and Lucas Ocampos got the second.
The top two teams in the second division move up automatically to the top tier.
The Clausura season has been named the "Tournament Crucero General Belgrano" by the Argentine government. The government owns the rights to all first-division matches and shows them on free-to-air television.
The Argentine naval ship General Belgrano was sunk by British torpedoes during the war over the Falkland Islands 30 years ago. The anniversary of the start of the conflict is April 2.
The Argentine government was angered by the recent arrival in the Falklands — called Las Malvinas in Argentina — of Prince William, second in line to the British throne.
The prince, known in the British defense forces as Flight Lt. Wales, has been deployed to the islands for six weeks as a search-and-rescue pilot.
The British government says it's a routine deployment. Argentina has called it provocative.
