SIX players sent off in Superclasico extra time after massive 15 MINUTE brawl sparked by River Plate scoring a 90th minute penalty to beat Argentina’s fierce rivals Boca Juniors
Even by Superclasico standards, it was a hysterical end to one of the fiercest rivalries in all of football on Sunday night between Argentina’s Boca Juniors and River Plate.
Six players were sent off in extra time – three from each team – when a huge brawl erupted shortly after a late and ultimately decisive River penalty put them 1-0 ahead against Boca.
Stewards and riot police had to step in to break up the teams and when things finally cooled down, the referee ejected three players from each side, as well as Boca coach, Jorge Almiron.
River, coached by Martin Demichelis, held on for victory thanks to Miguel Borja’s penalty kick at home at the Estadio Monumental.
It was unclear how the brawl started. Borja kept his nerve in the most intense of circumstances, sending former Manchester United goalkeeper Sergio Romero the wrong way in the 93rd minute.
A massive brawl between River Plate and Boca Juniors erupted in Sunday’s superclasico
The stadium, packed with 83,000 supporters, erupted in sheer euphoria and most of Borja’s teammates harassed him as if it were a winning goal in the World Cup final.
But as the on-field festivities continued, some of Borja’s teammates were distracted by a clash with the Boca team – a clash that soon consumed nearly everyone from both teams.
CBS Sports commented that the scrap might have started with Romero brawling with Uruguayan international midfielder Nicolas de la Cruz of River Plate, but everyone was involved within seconds.
Addition time lasted a whopping 19 minutes, with the referee sending off Agustin Palavecino, Ezequiel Ignacio Centurion and Elias Gomez from River and Miguel Merendiel, Ezequiel Fernandez and Nicolas Valentini from Boca.
The match-winning penalty for River was awarded when Agustin Sanchez fouled Pablo Solari.
Borja’s successful spot kick means River and Demichelis have a nine-point lead at the top of Argentina’s Primera Division, although runners-up Ssn Lorenza have played a game less.
Boca, meanwhile, languishes in 13th place in the standings.
