Buenos Aires, Feb 27: Argentine international Juan Roman Riquelme sealed a 2-0 win for Boca Juniors over Newell's Old Boys on Sunday with a trademark direct free kick from 25 yards (meters) to help extend the club's unbeaten run to 34 games.
The three points improve Boca Juniors to third position in the in the Argentine league, level on points with the teams above them after three games of the season. The win could also ease pressure on coach Julio Cesar Falcioni, following two games in which Boca failed to score.
Also Sunday, Velez Sarsfield moved into first position in the league on goal difference with a 3-2 win over Arsenal and Tigre defeated Godoy Cruz 2-0 to improve to second place.
Dario Cvitanich got Boca's first goal a minute before halftime when he steered a ball played into the box past the goalkeeper.
Boca had slightly better possession over the 90 minutes, but both sides had few chances.
Newell had a strong penalty appeal turned down in the 64th, before Riquelme got Boca's second in the 81st.
Both teams received four yellow cards, all but one of which were given in the second half as rough tackles flew in.
Augusto Fernandez scored twice and Juan Manuel Martinez got the other for Velez Sarsfied, but a goal for Arsenal*s Emilio Zelaya in the 68th and then one from Luciano Leguizamon in the 83rd made for a nervous end to the game.
Carlos Luna scored in the 15th for Tigre, with Leandro Cruz adding the second in the 87th, three minutes after Godoy Cruz's Ruben Ramirez and Tigre's Mariano Echeverria had both been sent off.
In Friday's games, Belgrano defeated Union 1-0 and All Boys won 1-0 against Rafaela.
On Saturday, Colon defeated Olimpo 3-1, Estudiantes won 2-0 against Independiente and San Lorenzo beat Argentinos Juniors 1-0.
In Sunday*s other game, Racing lost 2-1 to Banfield.
On Monday, Lanus, the only club still with a perfect record, plays San Martin and will move into first position with a win.
