Boca Juniors secured a crucial victory against Newell’s Old Boys on Saturday night, edging out a 1-0 win in Rosario during the 26th round of Argentina’s Professional League. The win puts Boca firmly on track too qualify for the prestigious Copa libertadores 2025.
Midfielder Kevin Zenon’s strike nine minutes into the second half proved to be the difference-maker,propelling “Xeneize” to victory. With this result, Boca, led by coach Fernando Gago, now sits comfortably in fifth place with 66 points, a position thay cannot be dislodged from.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game,” Gago said after the match. “Newell’s is a strong team, but we were able to control the game and create chances. I’m very happy with the performance of the team.”
Only a highly improbable scenario could prevent Boca from securing a playoff spot for the Copa Libertadores. Huracán would need to win the league title, and Central Córdoba would have to claim victory in the Argentine Cup for Boca to miss out.
The match began with Boca struggling to find their rhythm. Newell’s looked perilous early on, with a promising team move culminating in a missed possibility for midfielder Mateo Miljevic.
As the first half progressed, Boca began to assert themselves, taking control of possession and creating several scoring opportunities. Edinson Cavani, Boca’s star striker, led the charge, but a potential penalty shout for a foul on Milton Giménez was waved away by both the referee and VAR.
¡Se salvó Newell’s! 😱 Giménez quedó mano a mano con el arquero, pero no pudo definir. pic.twitter.com/z927t27Q8O
— SC_ESPN (@SC_ESPN) July 22, 2023
Boca continued to press in the second half, with Cavani again at the heart of their attack. Giménez had another chance, but his attempt was thwarted. However, the breakthrough came soon after when Zeballos’s cross found Zenon, who calmly slotted the ball into the net.
¡GOOOOOL DE BOCA! 🔵🟡 Kevin Zenón abrió el marcador en Rosario. pic.twitter.com/6z266z7z7K
— SC_ESPN (@SC_ESPN) July 22, 2023
Newell’s pushed for an equalizer in the closing stages, but Boca’s defense held firm, securing a valuable three points and keeping their Copa Libertadores dreams alive.
In a thrilling match that captivated Argentine soccer fans, Boca Juniors secured a hard-fought victory against Newell’s Old Boys, silencing a restless home crowd at the Marcelo Bielsa Stadium.
The lone goal of the match came in the second half, courtesy of Boca’s Kevin Zenón, who found the back of the net in the 9th minute. Zenón’s strike proved to be the difference-maker, propelling Boca to a crucial three points in the Liga Profesional 2024.
“It was a tough match,” admitted Boca Juniors coach Fernando Gago. “Newell’s played with a lot of intensity, but we were able to weather the storm and come away with the win.”
The match was a tightly contested affair,with both teams creating chances throughout the 90 minutes. Newell’s, led by coach Mariano Soso, pushed hard for an equalizer but were unable to break through Boca’s resolute defense.
The victory moves Boca Juniors up the Liga Profesional standings, while Newell’s will be looking to bounce back in their next fixture.
Match Details
Liga Profesional 2024: Newell’s Old Boys 0 – 1 Boca Juniors
Stadium: Marcelo Bielsa stadium
Referee: Leandro Rey Hilfer
VAR: Pablo Dóvalo
Lineups
Newell’s Old Boys: Joshua Queen; Armando Mendez, Gustavo Velazquez, saul Salcedo, Thomas jacob, Leonel Vangioni; Tom Perez, Ever Banega, Matko Miljevic, Matthew Silvetti; John Ramirez.
Boca Juniors: Leandro Brey; Luis Advíncula, Lautaro di Lollo, Nicolás Figal, Frank Fabra; Kevin Zenón, Pol Fernández, Ignacio Miramón, Exequiel Zeballos; Milton Giménez and edinson Cavani.
Substitutions
Second Half:
- Milton Delgado for miramón (Boca)
- Gabriel Carabajal and Francisco Gonzalez for Vangioni and Miljevic (Newell’s)
- Juan Manuel Garcia and Giovani Chiaverano for Ramirez and Silvetti (Newell’s)
- Brian Aguirre for Gimenez (Boca)
- Miguel Merentiel and Jabes Saralegui for Cavani and Zenon (Boca)
- White Lautaro for Fabra (Boca)
