“Matías Pellegrini opens the scoring for Vélez Sarsfield with a well-directed header from the center of the penalty area”
Pivotal“Pellegrini strikes again with a powerful left-footed shot from outside the penalty area after a quick counterattack to put Vélez 2-0 up”
Pivotal“Iker Zufiaurre pulls one back for Boca Juniors with a right-footed strike from outside the penalty area, setting up a tense finish”
Vélez Sarsfield
Boca Juniors
Outstanding performance
Vélez Sarsfield•MidfielderVélez Sarsfield secured a crucial 2-1 victory over Boca Juniors at home, with Matías Pellegrini emerging as the match-winner with a devastating double strike in the space of just three minutes. The game remained scoreless through the first half before exploding into life in the second period. Pellegrini first broke the deadlock on 63 minutes with a well-placed header from the center of the penalty area, then immediately doubled the advantage three minutes later with a thunderous left-footed drive from outside the box following a swift counterattack. Despite Boca's late substitution bringing on Ángel Romero for Miguel Merentiel, they struggled to create clear chances until Iker Zufiaurre's consolation strike in the 90th minute made for a nervy finish. This victory provides vital breathing room for Vélez in their league campaign, while Boca will rue their inability to capitalize on their opportunities before Pellegrini's clinical finishing settled the contest.
How entertaining was this match?
Boca Juniors has been flagged for offside. Ayrton Costa has been caught in an offside position.
Substitution for Vélez Sarsfield: Aaron Quirós comes on to take the place of Diego Valdés.
assist: Leandro Paredes
Goal! Vélez Sarsfield leads Boca Juniors 2-1. Iker Zufiaurre from Boca Juniors scores with a right-footed strike from outside the penalty area.
Ángel Romero from Boca Juniors earns a free kick in the opponent's half.
Elías Gómez commits a foul for Vélez Sarsfield.
Missed opportunity! Lucas Robertone from Vélez Sarsfield took a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area, but it didn't hit the target.
Missed opportunity! Tomás Aranda from Boca Juniors takes a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area, but it sails over the crossbar. He was set up by Milton Delgado.
Substitution for Vélez Sarsfield: Álex Verón comes on to take the place of Manuel Lanzini.
Substitution for Vélez Sarsfield: Rodrigo Aliendro comes on to take the place of Claudio Baeza.
Substitution for Vélez Sarsfield: Rodrigo Aliendro comes on to take the place of Claudio Baeza.
Tomás Aranda from Boca Juniors earns a free kick in his team's defensive zone.
Tomás Aranda from Boca Juniors earns a free kick in his team's defensive zone.
Substitution for Vélez Sarsfield: Dilan Godoy comes on to take the place of Florián Monzón.
Substitution for Vélez Sarsfield: Lucas Robertone comes on to take the place of Matías Pellegrini.
Milton Delgado of Boca Juniors commits a foul.
Diego Valdés of Vélez Sarsfield earns a free kick in his team's defensive zone.
Corner kick awarded to Vélez Sarsfield after Ayrton Costa allowed the ball to go out.
Substitution for Boca Juniors: Marcelo Weigandt comes on for Juan Barinaga, who has been forced off the field due to an injury.
Substitution for Boca Juniors: Tomás Aranda comes on in place of Kevin Zenón.
Leandro Paredes from Boca Juniors earns a free kick in his team's defensive zone.
Claudio Baeza from Vélez Sarsfield committed a foul.
Ángel Romero from Boca Juniors earns a free kick in the opponent's half.
Shot on goal denied. Matías Pellegrini from Vélez Sarsfield takes a left-footed strike from the middle of the area, but the goalkeeper makes the save.
Corner kick awarded to Boca Juniors after Emanuel Mammana allowed the ball to go out.
assist: Diego Valdés
Goal! Vélez Sarsfield leads Boca Juniors 2-0. Matías Pellegrini scores with a powerful left-footed shot from outside the penalty area after a quick counterattack.
assist: Diego Valdés
Goal! Vélez Sarsfield takes the lead with a score of 1-0 against Boca Juniors. Matías Pellegrini scores with a header from the middle of the penalty area.
Substitution for Boca Juniors: Ángel Romero comes on to take the place of Miguel Merentiel.
Milton Delgado from Boca Juniors earns a free kick in his team's defensive zone.
Tobías Andrada from Vélez Sarsfield commits a foul.
Shot on goal denied. Florián Monzón from Vélez Sarsfield takes a right-footed strike from outside the penalty area, but the goalkeeper makes the save.
Missed opportunity! Diego Valdés from Vélez Sarsfield took a right-footed shot from the left side of the penalty area after a quick counterattack.
Missed opportunity! Iker Zufiaurre from Boca Juniors takes a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area, but it sails over the crossbar. The chance was set up by Lautaro Blanco, who provided a header after a corner kick.
Boca Juniors has been awarded a corner kick after Lisandro Magallán allowed the ball to go out of play.
Missed opportunity! Diego Valdés from Vélez Sarsfield had a header from the center of the penalty area but couldn't find the target.
Iker Zufiaurre from Boca Juniors commits a foul.
Elías Gómez from Vélez Sarsfield earns a free kick in his team's defensive zone.
Missed opportunity! Florián Monzón from Vélez Sarsfield took a right-footed shot from the center of the penalty area.
Leandro ParedesYellow CardLeandro Paredes from Boca Juniors receives a yellow card for committing a foul.
Matías Pellegrini from Vélez Sarsfield is awarded a free kick on the right side of the field.
Leandro Paredes from Boca Juniors commits a foul.
Missed opportunity! Iker Zufiaurre from Boca Juniors attempted a header from the middle of the penalty area but couldn't find the target.
Substitution for Boca Juniors: Iker Zufiaurre comes on to take the place of Gonzalo Gelini.
The second half is underway with the score still tied at Vélez Sarsfield 0, Boca Juniors 0.
The first half concludes with the score tied at 0-0 between Vélez Sarsfield and Boca Juniors.
The fourth official has indicated that there will be one minute of stoppage time.
Missed opportunity! Florián Monzón from Vélez Sarsfield took a right-footed shot from the middle of the penalty area, but it went off target.
Leandro Paredes from Boca Juniors earns a free kick in his team's defensive zone.
Leandro Paredes from Boca Juniors is awarded a free kick in his team's defensive zone.
Boca Juniors is flagged for offside. Ayrton Costa has been caught in an offside position.
Corner kick awarded to Boca Juniors after a deflection off Emanuel Mammana.
Matías Pellegrini from Vélez Sarsfield is awarded a free kick on the right side of the field.
Milton Delgado of Boca Juniors commits a foul.
Missed opportunity! Joaquín García from Vélez Sarsfield took a right-footed shot from a challenging angle on the right after a set piece, but it didn't hit the target.
Manuel Lanzini of Vélez Sarsfield has been awarded a free kick in the opponent's half.
Lautaro Di Lollo from Boca Juniors commits a foul.
The attempt is thwarted. Juan Barinaga from Boca Juniors takes a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area, but it gets blocked.
Corner kick awarded to Boca Juniors after a deflection off Diego Valdés.
Corner kick awarded to Boca Juniors after Elías Gómez allowed the ball to go out.
Corner kick awarded to Boca Juniors after a deflection off Emanuel Mammana.
Florián Monzón from Vélez Sarsfield just missed the target with a header from the center of the box, sending the ball slightly over the goal. He was set up by a cross from Diego Valdés after a corner kick.
Corner kick awarded to Vélez Sarsfield after Ayrton Costa allowed the ball to go out.
Corner kick awarded to Boca Juniors after a play that resulted in a foul by Elías Gómez.
Missed opportunity! Manuel Lanzini from Vélez Sarsfield took a left-footed shot from outside the penalty area, but it went wide.
Tobías Andrada from Vélez Sarsfield earns a free kick on the right side of the field.
Leandro Paredes from Boca Juniors commits a foul.
Leandro Paredes of Boca Juniors earns a free kick in the opponent's half.
Leandro Paredes from Boca Juniors earns a free kick in the opponent's half.
Shot on goal denied. Kevin Zenón from Boca Juniors takes a right-footed strike from the middle of the box, but Álvaro Montero of Vélez Sarsfield makes a save right in the center of the goal.
Manuel Lanzini from Vélez Sarsfield earns a free kick in his team's defensive zone.
Juan Barinaga of Boca Juniors commits a foul.
Miguel Merentiel from Boca Juniors earns a free kick in the offensive zone.
Claudio Baeza from Vélez Sarsfield committed a foul.
Offside call against Vélez Sarsfield. Diego Valdés has been flagged for being in an offside position.
Tobías Andrada from Vélez Sarsfield is awarded a free kick on the right side of the field.
Ayrton Costa of Boca Juniors commits a foul.
Manuel Lanzini from Vélez Sarsfield earns a free kick in the opponent's half.
Milton Delgado from Boca Juniors commits a foul.
Missed opportunity. Tobías Andrada from Vélez Sarsfield took a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area, but it went wide to the left.
Missed opportunity! Tobías Andrada from Vélez Sarsfield took a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area.
A shot on goal has been stopped. Leandro Paredes from Boca Juniors took a right-footed strike from outside the penalty area, but Álvaro Montero of Vélez Sarsfield made a save in the bottom right corner. The attempt was set up by Miguel Merentiel.
Ayrton Costa from Boca Juniors had a shot with his left foot from a challenging angle on the right, but it went wide of the target after a set piece situation.
Leandro Paredes from Boca Juniors earns a free kick in the opponent's half.
Claudio Baeza of Vélez Sarsfield commits a foul.
Florián Monzón from Vélez Sarsfield commits a foul.
Milton Delgado from Boca Juniors is awarded a free kick in their own half.
Juan Barinaga from Boca Juniors earns a free kick on the right flank.
Juan Barinaga from Boca Juniors is awarded a free kick on the right side of the field.
The opening half is underway...
The teams have revealed their starting lineups, and the players are currently going through their warm-up routines.
