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Recopa: Boca Juniors draw first blood in Argentina [Thu Aug 25th, 2005]
Argentine giants Boca Juniors scored three goals in seventeen minutes to defeat Colombian club Once Caldas 3-1 in the first leg of the final of the Recopa played at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires.
The Recopa brought together the champions of last years Copa Sudamericana (Boca Juniors) and the champions of the Copa Libertadores (Once Caldas) to determine the kings of South America, in a repeat of the final of the 2004 Copa Libertadores, when Once Caldas were crowned champions after defeating Boca after a penalty shootout.
Boca were looking for revenge, and Sebastian Battaglia gave them a dream start scoring with just two minutes of play gone. Federico Insua crossed in an accurate corner from the right which Once Caldas goalkeeper Julian Mesa missed and Battaglia headed in at the back post.
In the ninth minute Boca doubled their advantage through Neri Cardozo. Fernando Gago sent Cardozo through with a brilliant assist and Cardozo made no mistake shooting to the left post when in a one-on-one position with goalkeeper Mesa.
Boca’s third came after another good cross from Federico Insua. In the 17th minute the talented midfielder crossed a precise free-kick into the box with his left boot and big man Daniel Bilos outjumped a defender and headed the ball into the goal to give Boca their third.
It seemed that Boca might go on to win by a historic margin when Edgar Catano almost scored an own goal when trying to clear the ball, but fortunately for Once the ball flashed centimetres wide from Mesa’s right post.
Once were able to react well after their disastrous beginning to the match and their latest scare, and began to string together some good passes that are typical of their normal game.
In the 41st minute they were rewarded for their improvement as Mauricio Casierra got between two Boca defenders and met a superb through-ball from Arnulfo Valentierra, side-footed Boca goalkeeper Roberto Abbondancieri and shot into an empty net.
In the second half the pace of the game dropped significantly as Boca ran out of ideas and Once looked happy to settle with the 3-1 loss, as they must have thought that they will be able to change things around in the second leg in Manizales.
In second half injury time, Once Caldas almost snatched their second goal when Elkin Soto unleashed a spectacular drive from outside the box, but Roberto Abbondancieri reacted well to keep Boca with a two-goal advantage looking ahead to the return match.
The second leg will be played on the 31st of August at the Estadio Palogrande in Manizales, Colombia.
BOCA JUNIORS (3) Roberto Abbondancieri, Hugo Ibarra, Rolando Schiavi, Daniel Diaz, Juan Krupoviesa, Sebastian Battaglia, Neri Cardozo (Diego Cagna 77), Fernando Gago, Federico Insua (Fabian Vargas 74), Rodrigo Palacio (Guillermo Barros Schelotto 85) and Daniel Bilos. Coach: Alfio Basile.
ONCE CALDAS (1) Julian Mesa, Edgar Catano, Wilmer Diaz, Juan Gonzalez, Mauricio Casierra, Andres Casanas (Arnulfo Valentierra 23), Elkin Soto, Diego Arango, Leonel Vielma, Gamadiel Garcia (Ismael Espiga 46) and Edison Chara (Dayro Moreno 74). Coach: Carlos Valencia.
Goals:
Boca- Sebastian Battaglia (2 minutes), Neri Cardozo (9 minutes) and Daniel Bilos (17 minutes).
Once- Mauricio Casierra (41 minutes).
Referee: Carlos Chandia (Chile).
Stadium: La Bombonera.
Gregory Sica
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