Buenos Aires, Nov 05: Boca Juniors draw 0-0 with Independiente and River Plate are held 1-1 at Velez Sarsfield in the Argentine League. Argentine championship leaders Boca Juniors were held to a goalless draw at home by Independiente on Sunday (November 2).
Independiente were helped by an excellent performance from 19-year-old goalkeeper Lucas Molina. The game, just days after Boca lost their unbeaten record in a 1-0 defeat at Newell's Old Boys on Wednesday, marked the end of a 5-game losing streak by the Red Devils.

Boca's frustration was compounded when 19-year-old inspiration Carlos Tevez went off with a knee injury five minutes before halftime.


He now appears likely to miss next week's match against arch-rivals River Plate.


River Plate failed to take advantage of Boca's draw as they were held 1-1 at Velez Sarsfield in their league match on Sunday.


Velez took the lead with a 38th minute goal by Cristian Bardaro and River's Osmar Fereyra equalised in the 56th minute.


River remained nine points behind Boca in seventh position in the Apertura Championship.


Elsewhere in Argentina, San Lorenzo beat Olimpo 2-0 moving into second place, only two points behind Boca Juniors. Newly-promoted Quilmes dropped from second to fifth after being sunk 1-0 by Rosario Central, who moved into third place.


Line-ups: Boca Juniors: Roberto Abbondanzieri; Jos Mara Calvo, Rolando Schiavi, Nicols Burdisso, Clemente Rodrguez; Diego Cagna, Sebastin Battaglia, Miguel Caneo; Matas Donnet; Pedro Iarley Lima Dantas and Carlos Tevez. Coach: Carlos Bianchi.


Independiente: Lucas Molina; Flix Benito, Hernn Franco, Rafael Olarra, Pablo Brandn; Cristian Zurita, Diego Castagno Surez, Hernn Losada; Leonel Ros; Jeremas Caggiano and Bruno Marioni. Coach: Osvaldo Sosa.


Vlez Sarsfield: Sebastin Peratta; Maximiliano Flotta, Maximiliano Pellegrino, Mariano Uglessich; Santiago Ladino, Leandro Somoza, Mauro Algecira, Jons Gutirrez; Esteban Bujn; Cristian Bardaro and Rolando Zrate. Coach: Carlos Ischia.


River Plate: Franco Costanzo; Ricardo Rojas, Horacio Ameli, Eduardo Tuzzio, Osmar Ferreyra; Diego Barrado, Guillermo Pereyra, Kilian Virviescas; Alejandro Domnguez; Maximiliano Lpez and Daro Husain. Coach: ManuelPellegrini.


Standings: P W D L F A Pts 1. Boca Juniors 13 8 4 1 24 7 28 2. San Lorenzo 13 8 2 3 18 9 26 3. Rosario Central 13 7 4 2 19 14 25 4. Banfield 13 7 3 3 21 13 24 5. Quilmes 13 7 3 3 17 10 24 6. Newell's Old Boys 13 6 5 2 17 8 23 7. River Plate 13 5 4 4 17 16 19 8. Racing Club 13 4 6 3 19 16 18 9. Colon 13 4 5 4 15 15 17 10. Arsenal 13 4 5 4 12 12 17 11. Talleres 13 4 4 5 19 21 16 12. Velez Sarsfield 13 4 4 5 14 19 16 13. Lanus 13 2 9 2 15 16 15 14. Chacarita Juniors 13 3 6 4 14 15 15 15. Independiente 13 3 5 5 11 12 14 16. Estudiantes 13 3 4 6 8 13 13 17. Atletico Rafaela 13 3 4 6 15 22 13 18. Olimpo 13 2 3 8 9 18 9 19. Gimnasia-La Plata 13 1 5 7 6 18 8 20. Nueva Chicago 13 1 3 9 8 24 6


Bureau Report