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Boca Overcome Banfield with Nine Players

Nine Players was all Boca Juniors needed to defeat Banfield 2-1 in the Argentina championship on Sunday. This was the second weekend in a row where two of Boca`s players are sent off, but that fact did not stop the 2005 Argentinean champion from winning.

Boca went ahead in the 15th minute when Banfield defender Marcos Galarza deflected Martin Palermo`s shot into his own net. The game seemed to turn Banfield`s way in the 50th minute when Daniel Diaz handled Jose Sand`s goal-bound shot on the line and was sent off. Jose Datolo fired home the penalty to equalize. In the 72nd minute, Boca midfielder Federico Insua was given a second yellow card for diving, leaving his team with nine men, but Banfield failed to capitalize and Boca snatched a last-minute winner when Hugo Ibarra`s long-range shot caught goalkeeper Cristian Lucchetti out of position.

Regardless to the victory, Boca coach Alfio Basile was not happy with the ruling in the game. "The team was extraordinary, it`s not any team that can do this. The refereeing today was a disaster and I`m not just blaming the referee, but also the linesmen." With the end of this weekend`s games
River, Boca and Newell`s are now level at the top of the Clausura championship with 25 points from 13 games.