So in the end, Alfio Basile’s army weren’t able to obtain a crucial away victory against Los Millionares (how dare you mistake them for Chamillionaire!) but at least they came away with a 1-1 draw. As expected, El Monumental had all the ingredients for an emotional game and things got heated when Ariel Ortega hit his arm on Boca’s defender, Julio Caceres’ neck. The Paraguayan got pissed and was subsequently sent off for ‘retaliating’. Apparently, Ortega fell to the floor like a baby. For the love of The Dona, it’s a soap opera!!

Surprisingly, River dominated the first half of play and won a penalty but Boca’s keeper, Pato Abbondanzieri (they’re not all Webcam Kings, ok?) pulled off a fine save to keep the score 0-0. Then Marcelo Gallardo’s stunning free kick broke the deadlock…. es demasiado grande para las palabras! Martin Palermo levelled the score upon removing his phantom mask in the second half. Hah, Riquelme was wrong after all.

River’s Matías Abelairas, whose effort slipped off the post in the dying minutes of the game said :”I will not sleep. I will review the play several times. I tried to do my best and hit the ball first because two defenders were coming for me. I saw (the play) in the locker room, the summary … and I think I did the right thing … It was a matter of inches and I could not fulfill my dream: to score a goal against Boca.”

Well tipo, there’s always the next time.