Gabriel Hauche embraces Pablo Lugüercio
after scoring against Boca (Sport Soccer)

Boca were ready to embark on a tough stretch of matches if they planned to recover from a poor run of form. Unfortunately for the Xeneizes, their first step was probably their last in their run towards a league title as rivals Racing Club defeated for the first time in eight years at La Bombonera 2-1.

The win by Racing Club, led by former Boca Juniors coach Miguel Ángel Russo, put La Academia out of the promotion zone. Brian Lluy and Gabriel Hauche scored for the Avellaneda side while Walter Gaitán opened the scoring for the home side in the 14th minute who remain stuck on seven points after eight matches.

Racing would equalize two minutes afterwards courtesy of former Gimnasia man Brian Lluy on a breakaway. Then former Argentinos Juniors forward Gabriel Hauche would score the eventual game-winner in the dying moments of the first half.

Despite being behind, Boca sputtered offensively but were capable of generating enough offense to force Jorge De Olivera in becoming the savior for Racing in the second half.

Boca's defensive woes continued to become evident as Racing were able to take advantage of several Xeneize flaws. There is one thing that has become evident and that is that the new generation of Boca youngsters coming out of their once vaunted youth system are no longer what they once were.

Gabriel Palletta has been a flop ever since he came back from Liverpool and has had his moments of brilliance, but his return to Argentina has been marred with inconsistency; but let's not blame him entirely. He was moved from one side of the defensive backline to the other depending on need and on coaching whims of the different bosses that were in charge in La Boca the past three years.

The Santiago Villafañe experiment has unofficially come to an end as he has not responded to the situations that Abel Alves has placed him in and there are no answers at all. On Saturday he was responsible for the first goal as he pushed up and allowed Lluy to run right by him. Luiz Alberto has also offered little in terms of security in the back line and also add that Boca have a young keeper under the sticks in Javi García.

The learning curve does not have the angle that a club like Boca requires its youngsters to have and this season has become one of transition in a matter of seven weeks.

Meanwhile on offense, Federico Insúa looks to have had his best days long behind him. His return to Boca from Necaxa (courtesy of the other Televisa team, Club América). He played one of his worst matches of the season.

To add fuel to the fire, Boca star Juan Román Riquelme harshly criticized the club brass and defended coach Abel Alves. "What happened this past summer was not normal. (Alves) is doing the impossible to find a team he was given four days before the season and it is becoming more difficult to find it with every passing game." said Riquelme.

"It's the reality and Boca fans should know. We have no chance to win the title, but we are going to try to win as many points as possible for the rest of the season.

"For Boca the road does not get tougher as they will have to head to the Delta to play Tigre and then River Plate comes to La Bombonera two weeks later.

Racing in the meantime were able to stave off the promotion shadow for another week and the team led by Miguel Ángel Russo are slowly showing their form winning two of the first four matches under his direction.

Player ratings

Boca Juniors

García	6
Villafañe	4
Barroso	4.5
Luiz Alberto	5
Monzón	4.5
Méndez	5
Insúa	3.5
Riquelme	7
Gaitán	6.5
Palermo	5.5
Chávez	5.5
Erbes	5
Viatri	5

Racing

De Olivera	7
Mercado	5
Martínez	5
Aveldaño	5
Cahais	5
Falcón	5
Yacob	6
Lluy	7
Lugüercio	6
Hauche	6.5
Bieler	5.5
Rosano	5
Grazzinii	5
Castromán	inc.