Boca Juniors Defeats Riestra in Apertura

At the start of the second half, a combination between Paredes and Zeballos ended in a goal for the winger, but the play was nullified due to a previous handball by Janson, who was also booked. During that part of the match, Boca continued to push forward. In the second attack, a cross from Blanco was blocked and hit the far post. Boca had another chance from a set play: a free kick from Paredes to the left, a cross from Blanco, and another header from Di Lollo that just went wide. However, Riestra's good pressing forced the home side to retreat more than they would have liked. At that moment, the home team deserved to win. The teams went into halftime at 0-0, with Boca being persistent and the visitors being combative. Boca started their journey in the Apertura tournament on the right foot: they defeated Deportivo Riestra 1-0 at La Bombonera thanks to a header from Lautaro Di Lollo in the 32nd minute of the second half. Claudio Úbeda's team was superior for having had the clearest chances, but they had to work harder than necessary. The first clear chance came from a cross by Barinaga from the right that Belmonte headed, but Arce responded with a notable save to send the ball for a corner. As the minutes went by, the dominance became more marked. Riestra, already out of breath to press, piled men forward, but only generated one chance to worry. Paredes executed a perfect free kick into the heart of the area, and Di Lollo appeared again, this time not missing: a powerful header to the middle of the goal, impossible for Arce. It wasn't until the 32nd minute that the sigh of relief came. The defender again created danger from a cross, this time forcing Arce to fly to his far post. The precise delivery from Leandro Paredes, another of the 'Xeneize's' standout players, for the defender's forward run, broke open a match that seemed unsolvable. From the start, Boca took control of the match, with Paredes as the axis in midfield and Janson and Zeballos moving in the center of the attack. The visitors' only deep run came from Bracamonte, who received the ball inside the box and finished with the outside of his foot to the far post, but Marchesín reacted. The substitutions began to change the dynamic: Úbeda sent Brian Aguirre on for Velasco, and later Iker Zufiaurre, the forward who is one of the reserve team's top scorers. Meanwhile, Boca was searching in every way, but only found clarity in set pieces. The defender thus capped a standout performance and gave the 'Xeneize' the lead they deserved for their persistence and volume of play. In the final minutes, Boca controlled the pace with few scares.