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Argentina: Frutos hat-trick gives Independiente classic victory [Tue Sep 13th, 2005]
Nicolas Frutos scored three times to enable Independiente to thrash bitter rivals Racing Club 4-0 in the ‘clasico’ of Avellaneda in the sixth round of the Apertura Championship.
The home side started well in front of a full house at the Doble Visera stadium, and could have taken any early lead, but a Nicolas Frutos header was tipped over the bar by Racing goalkeeper Gustavo Campagnuolo after Lucas Biglia crossed in a free-kick from the right.
In the 34th minute Biglia swung in a corner from the right, and Uruguayan defender Marcelo Mendez’s header was saved off the line by Juan Manuel Torres' hand. Torres was given a straight red card, and Nicolas Frutos drilled the spot kick into the middle of the goal to give Independiente the lead.
In the second half Independiente looked to double their lead and in the 56th minute they did. Biglia crossed in another precise corner kick and an unmarked Nicolas Frutos headed into the left corner of the goal for his second.
In the 76th minute, talented midfielder Sergio Aguero was brought down in the box by Gustavo Cabral, and Nicolas Frutos had the chance to complete his hat-trick. Frutos made no mistake thumping the ball under a hapless Gustavo Campagnuolo for his third of the afternoon, and his seventh of the season.
Racing came close to pulling one back, but Luis Benitez’s shot came off the woodwork.
In the 82nd minute, 17 year old Sergio Aguero completed the rout with a breathtaking strike. Aguero won the ball in his half and skipped past Martin Vitali, ran almost the length of the half before turning Diego Crosa inside out with incredible skills, then striking a precise shot past Campagnuolo in the Racing goal.
The victory lifts Independiente to third position on the table, while Racing drop to seventh.
In other matches, Boca Juniors edged out Argentinos Juniors 1-0 at the Bombonera thanks to a brilliant strike by Rodrigo Palacio in the 78th minute. Palacio started off the move that would lead to his goal, as he sent a good ball into the box that he quickly received back as a wall pass, then he slotted the ball past Marcelo Pontiroli in the Argentinos goal whilst under significant pressure.
After an inspired performance by Federico Insua, Boca picked up the vital three points that pushes them up to fourth place on the standings, just three points behind leaders San Lorenzo.
River Plate did not have as much success as their arch-rivals, going down 1-0 against mid-table Arsenal of Sarandi away from home. Debutant Ibrahim Sekagya headed in after a free kick was crossed into the box in the 58th minute to add further misery to River’s season and plant pressure on new coach Reinaldo Merlo.
Apertura Results: Round 6
Sunday
Independiente 4-0 Racing Club
Boca Juniors 1-0 Argentinos Juniors
Arsenal Sarandi 1-0 River Plate
Colon 1-1 Newell’s Old Boys
Olimpo 2-1 Gimnasia La Plata
Gimnasia Jujuy 1-2 Banfield
Saturday
Velez Sarsfield 1-0 Tiro Federal
Rosario Central 0-4 San Lorenzo
Lanus 1-1 Instituto
Friday
Estudiantes 2-0 Quilmes
Gregory Sica
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