Ariel Ortega

Birth Date: March 4 1974
Birth Place: Jujuy
Birth Nation: Argentina
Height: 170cm
Weight: 67Kg
Nationality: Argentina
Position: Midfielder

Full Name: Ariel Arnaldo Ortega

Ariel Ortega Transfer Rumours

08 10 2007

Underdog River Plate upset Boca Juniors 2-0 Sunday in Argentina's biggest soccer rivalry, winning with goals by Radamel Falcao and Ariel Ortega in the "superclasico" showdown.

Falaco scored in the 23rd minute and Ortega 10 minutes later off a penalty kick in front of 50,000 mostly River fans at the Monumental stadium in the Argentine capital.

The crosstown rivalry is the biggest in Argentina and, with heavy favorite Boca losing in the 13th Apertura round, frontrunner Independiente kept sole possession of first place with 25 points.

Boca remained two points back, while River jumped to 19 points in a bid to leave behind a long slump that saw the team spend weeks midway back in the first-division pack.

In 180 matches overall, Boca has won 64 of the encounters and River 60, with 56 draws.

Boca entered the match as heavy favorite but River found its groove early by attacking from the opening minutes, leaving no chance for a Boca counterattack - what River coach Daniel Passarella had promised would be an "ultra-offensive" match.

In the 23rd minute, River's Fernando Belluschi kicked a searing shot that rocketed off the bar and Falcao then took the loose ball and left-footed it into the goal past Boca goalkeeper Mauricio Caranta.

Five minutes later, Ortega stepped up pressure on Boca with a free kick that Caranta just managed to save.

Then, when Boca's Gabriel Paletta fouled Boca player Diego Buonanotte in the 31st minute, Ortega got the first of two penalty kick chances.

Caranta blocked the opening kick, but referee Hector Baldassi ordered a second chance for Ortega due to infringements by Boca players and Ortega scored.

Ever Banega was expelled in the final minute of the first period and Boca was forced to play one man and two goals down. While Boca seemed to threaten a few times in the second half, River kept its lead for victory.

Only six rounds remain in the Apertura season, leaving River in its best position yet in this year's title fight. For Boca, the loss to River was its fourth of the season.