BUENOS AIRES, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Argentine champions Boca
Juniors suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat by Gimnasia-Jujuy on
Sunday as the Clausura title race got under way.
Gimnasia's disciplined game was enough to undo a Boca team
who struggled to find any rhythm after the close-season break.
Gimnasia, tipped for relegation, carved out three clear
scoring opportunities in the first half and midfielder Israel
Damonte hit the post.
Boca survived these scares, however, and Martin Palermo
broke the deadlock by rising to meet a cross from Juan
Krupoviesa on the stroke of halftime.
Gimnasia's Damote equalised on 57 minutes after latching on
to a loose ball following a shot by Gustavo Balvorin.
Boca Juniors felt the absence of injured midfielders
Sebastian Battaglia and Fernando Gago, who were replaced by
Pablo Ledesma and Fabian Vargas.
Hector Silva scored the Gimnasia winner from a corner on 65
minutes.
River Plate had no such problems against lowly opposition,
trouncing Tiro Federal 5-0.
Daniel Montenegro bagged two goals, and Jairo Patino,
Jonathan Santana, Luciano Figueroa and Ernesto Farias scored
one apiece.
River Plate are hitting a rich vein of form under new coach
Daniel Passarella following their 6-0 drubbing of Bolivia's
Oriente Petroleo.
Banfield produced another upset by beating Racing 3-0.
Midfielder Jesus Datolo scored a goal in each half and
Cristian Leiva added a third on 71 minutes.
Dario Scocco managed his own brace of goals to help
Newell's Old Boys to a solid 2-0 win over Quilmes.
Independiente, another team with hopes of lifting the
Clausura trophy, could only draw 0-0 at home to Lanus.
Independiente rely heavily on the talents of young striker
Sergio Aguero, who is also looking to impress Argentine coach
Nestor Pekerman enough to make the squad for this year's World
Cup.
Played as a lone striker up against the massed Lanus
defence, however, Aguero made little impression.
