Boca boost slim title hopes

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP)

Boca Juniors kept their slim chances alive of winning the Argentine first-division title with a 1-0 win over leader Velez Sarsfield on Sunday.

Santiago Silva scored the deciding goal for Boca in the 30th minute at Velez.

In another key match Sunday, All Boys defeated Newell's Old Boys 2-1 to damage Newell's title hopes. Jonathan Ferrari scored from a header in the 11th minute for All Boys. Mauro Matos added a penalty in the 74th to decide the match for All Boys. Pablo Perez scored late for Newell's.

Velez leads on 32 points, with Lanus and Newell's three points behind. Boca has three matches remaining and trails by five in the title race.

In other results Sunday it was: Colon 2, Union 0; Arsenal 3, Godoy Cruz 0; San Martin 2, Tigre 2.

The victory will give a lift to Boca, which drew 0-0 against Newell's in its previous match. That result at Boca's La Bombonera stadium saw fans jeer coach Julio Falcioni, who is not expected to stay with the club after December.

''We beat a good rival today, the leading team,'' Boca midfielder Walter Erviti said. ''We have to play as well as we can until it's all over.''

Silva, a Uruguay striker, scored on a low shot that hugged the ground from close range to beat keeper Sebastian Sosa.

Federico Insua of Velez hit the post in the 50th with a shot that would have tied the match. Velez also missed several other clear chances late in the match to frustrate home fans.

Old Boys' loss could prove very costly. Midfielder Maxi Rodriguez and defender Gabriel Heinze went off in the first half with injuries. The two are veterans of Europe and have been the club's two anchors. Old Boys coach Gerardo Martino was sent off the in the 80th for arguing with the referee.

More violence marred the Argentine game on Sunday when hooligans of visiting team Union attempted to reach the field, cutting holes in a wire fence that separates fans from the field. Home team Colon won the match 2-0 in Santa Fe. Referee German Delfino stopped the match for eight minutes until he was guaranteed the Union hooligans could be controlled by security guards.

Mayhem threatens almost every match in Argentina, where the violence seems to be tolerated by the clubs, police and the Argentine Football Federation.

In results on Saturday it was: San Lorenzo 1, Rafaela 0; Estudiantes 2, Independiente 0.

Three matches are scheduled for Monday: Belgrano vs. Lanus, Racing vs. Quilmes, River Plate vs. Argentinos Juniors.