RESISTENCIA, Argentina – Boca Juniors won an unusual “Superclasico” on Wednesday, with Nicolas Blandi scoring both goals in a 2-0 friendly win over archrival River Plate.
With River now in the second tier of Argentine football, a lucrative friendly was scheduled to make up for the lack of league meetings between the nation’s two most famous clubs. They will meet again on Sunday in the western city of Mendoza.
Blandi opened the scoring with a seventh-minute header and put the match away in the 79th.
River’s early momentum faded quickly when Alejandro Dominguez was sent off in the 26th. He drew a yellow card for a bad tackle, and then another moments later for a making a threatening gesture toward the referee.
The match was testy throughout, even with only pride at stake.
Security was tight around the match, which was played before 25,000 in the northern city of Resistencia. Officials said 2,500 local and national police were deployed — one for every 10 fans. Violence is always a threat for matches in Argentina, particularly in high-profile games with the stands jammed with thousands of travelling fans.
River attacked early, but Boca took the lead on a counterattack with Pablo Mouche finding Blandi with a perfect cross, which he headed home from six meters (yards). Blandi scored the second on a counterattack as River pressed forward in search of an equalizer.
Boca was reduced to 10 men in the 67th when Facundo Roncaglia picked up his second yellow card.
Former France international and World Cup winner David Trezeguet came on as a second-half substitute for River. He was born in France to Argentine parents, and signed last month with the club.
Boca won the Apertura season in December, finishing unbeaten in 19 games. It was the club’s first title in three years, at its 24th first-division title overall.
River Plate, which was demoted seven months ago to the second division, has won the first division 33 times and is aiming to be promoted back to the top flight for the 2012-13 season.
