Boca Juniors cruise to 3 0 win at 10 man Central Cordoba

SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO, Argentina - Milton Gimenez struck early, Jose Florentin scored an own goal and Miguel Merentiel scored late as Boca Juniors eased to a 3-0 victory over a 10-man Central Cordoba in the Argentine Primera Division Apertura tournament on Friday.

Bocas fifth league win in a row lifted them to second in the table, just a point below Argentinos Juniors.

Today showed that we played well. We scored the goals quite quickly, Gimenez told TNT Sports. This is day by day, game by game. The league is very competitive and difficult. No one has an advantage.

Gimenez scored early for the second game in a row when he trapped a perfect long ball from former Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera in the Cordoba box. Keeper Alan Aguerre ran out to block Gimenez but the striker was able to find the net, putting Boca ahead in the 16th minute.

Cordoba almost equalised just after the half hour mark but Boca keeper Agustin Marchesin did well to keep out Luis Miguel Angulos attempt.

Visitors Boca doubled their lead soon after in the 36th minute when Kevin Zenons cross hit Cordoba defender Jose Florentin and rolled past the goal line despite Santiago Moyanos diving attempt to keep it out.

Things went from bad to worse for hosts Cordoba when they were reduced to 10 men just before half-time, with Jonathan Galvan sent off for showing aggression towards Herrera after an attempted tackle.

Boca captain Edinson Cavani, a former United forward, pushed to increase his teams lead early in the second half but fell short twice, but the visitors did not mind as they cruised towards victory with little pressure from the struggling hosts.

The third goal finally came in the 89th minute with Luis Advincula sending an inch-perfect diagonal ball to