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Argentina: San Lorenzo stay top as River's slump goes on [Mon Sep 19th, 2005]
Buenos Aires (Reuters) - River Plate's slump continues in the Argentine championship, as they lost 1-0 at home to defending champions Velez Sarsfield.
San Lorenzo stay top despite being held 1-1 at home by lowly Lanus and lead on goals scored from Banfield, who pulled level on 15 points from seven games with a 2-0 win over Colon.
River Plate dropped to a modest 11th in the Apertura championship after Claudio Enria's goal five minutes before half-time condemned them to a second successive defeat.
River dominated the first half-hour, failed to take their chances and then paid dearly for a mistake by former Argentina international Marcelo Gallardo.
Gallardo lost possession in his own half, Leandro Gracian broke clear and fed Enria, who scored from close range.
Velez climbed to fifth with 13 points.
San Lorenzo needed an 80th-minute equaliser from Ezequiel Lavezzi to draw with Lanus.
The visitors had 10 men from the 38th minute when Mauricio Romero was sent off after his second booking in four minutes.
In between Romero's yellow cards, Agustin Pelletieri gave Lanus the lead.
Banfield scored at the start of each half to overcome Colon, whose coach Gerardo Martino resigned last week.
Dario Cvitanich gave Banfield a sixth-minute lead and Jose Sand added the second with a penalty three minutes after the restart.
Boca Juniors and Argentinos Juniors both won to stay a point behind the leading pair.
Boca won 2-0 at Gimnasia-La Plata and Argentinos beat Rosario Central 1-0 at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium.
Tiro Federal coach Jorge Castelli resigned after his team went down 1-0 at home to Estudiantes, leaving them stuck at the botom without a point from seven games.
Castelli became the third coaching casualty of the tournament.
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