Boca Juniors' historic winless streak extended with goal from USMNT's Matko Miljevic
Miljevic, who played for the US in January's friendlies, struck brilliantly from outside the box to doom Boca, one of the giants of Argentine soccer.
Boca failed to recover from their disappointing Copa Argentina Round of 32 exit earlier this week and now sit 13th in Group B of the Clausura, having managed just two draws before the loss to Huracán.
Miguel Angel Russo's team once again produced a lackluster performance, with goalkeeper Agustín Marchesín emerging as their standout player.
'We are very angry about the team's current situation, but we know we have to turn this around,' Marchesín told TNT Sports.
'We have great players. There is a lot of sadness within the squad. We have to work harder than ever to keep improving.'
The hosts dominated the early proceedings, with Rodrigo Cabral coming close to breaking the deadlock when his deflected effort rattled the crossbar.
Moments later, Marchesín produced a stunning reflex save, using his feet to preserve the stalemate before making another crucial block in a one-on-one situation seconds before half-time.
Yet the Argentine keeper was finally beaten in the 65th minute when Miljevic fired a superb strike into the top corner to hand the Apertura runners-up Huracán their first win in the tournament.
'I think we are deserved winners,' Huracan midfielder Leonardo Gil said. 'We had a lot of chances to score. They only had a couple of shots on goal.'
Boca next host Racing Club on 9 August.
'The tournament has just started, we have to turn the page,' Marchesín added. 'We are very sad, but we have to be in the best possible shape at home.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
2 hours ago
- Reuters
Brazil's tactical balance tested as Colombia rematch looms in Copa America final
Aug 1 (Reuters) - Brazil have cruised into the Women's Copa America final with dominant scorelines and solid performances, but their biggest challenge awaits in Saturday's rematch against Colombia, a side determined to dethrone the defending champions. Arthur Elias's team has not leaned on star power to reach the final. Instead, Brazil's run has been defined by tactical balance: a disciplined backline, coordinated pressing, sharp execution on set pieces, and exploiting their opponent's defensive miscues. Their success is largely down to a core of new figures, such as Amanda Gutierres, who is the leading scorer for the team in the tournament with five goals and plays a central role in attack. Her brace in their semi-final win over Uruguay underscored her sharp positioning and composure in front of goal. "Hard work pays off," the Palmeiras striker said after the 5-1 victory. "Nothing is forced, everything happens at the right moment." Meanwhile, the experience of Marta continues to anchor the group. The veteran playmaker, who returned from international retirement for this tournament, was named MVP in the semi-final after a standout performance, assisting the opening goal and converting a penalty. Captain Marta's energy in Quito's altitude, along with her leadership and vision, has brought balance to a side still finding their rhythm. "We knew what to do when we had the ball, especially finding the passes between the lines," Marta said, also praising Brazil's defensive response after a shaky start to the second half. "(Goalkeeper) Claudia and the girls at the back sorted things out." While defensively solid with just two goals conceded in five matches, Brazil's intensity lapses have created openings that Colombia, led by Linda Caicedo and Mayra Ramirez, could punish. Their group-stage goalless draw saw Colombia dominate for 70 minutes after goalkeeper Lorena's red card, highlighting the fine margins the eight-time champions must control in the final. Brazil may not dazzle for 90 minutes, but their formula built on discipline, rotation and rising confidence has proved effective. Colombia represent their sternest test yet, but with a blend of energy and experience the reigning champions are positioned to complete their mission again.
The Guardian
10 hours ago
- The Guardian
Full-backs and future stars: the issues facing Lionesses before World Cup bid
The shiny ticker-tape had not even been cleared from the pitch at St Jakob-Park when the gauntlet was thrown down. As England celebrated their Euro 2025 triumph, King Charles wrote on the royal family's Instagram account: 'Well done, Lionesses. The next is to bring home the World Cup in 2027 if you possibly can!' No pressure, then. The short-term future for England players will centre around two things; a holiday – unless you are a National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) player like Jess Carter, who had to fly straight back to the US to play club football – and more accolades, the latest of which came on Friday as the National Football Museum announced every squad member and Sarina Wiegman will all be inducted into their Hall of Fame. More awards will surely follow but, eventually, everyone will catch up with the King's mindset and focus attention on 2027. Having become the first senior England football team to win a major trophy overseas, and the first to defend a title, the next obstacle to overcome is to win the nation's first Women's World Cup, with the next tournament to be staged in Brazil as it heads to South America for the first time. The Lionesses have come very close, reaching the semi-finals in 2015 and 2019 before losing 2023's final, and their retained status as European champions will see many tipping them for glory in a couple of years. But how will this team evolve before then and what is there for all concerned to ponder? Wiegman's team now enters a new era as they say farewell to her long-serving assistant Arjan Veurink, often hailed as key to their tactical success, as he heads off to become the Netherlands head coach. Geraint Twose, also part of Wiegman's backroom team for both of their Euro-winning campaigns, is also moving on to take up a new position as England's lead transition coach, supporting players in the youth pathway. Arriving from the Netherlands are Janneke Bijl and Arvid Smit, and it will be interesting to see how, if at all, England's style changes with them in place. Lucy Bronze has made it clear she wants to play at the next World Cup. She will be 35-and-three-quarters when the tournament comes around and while her experience, leadership skills and mentality will ensure she is still England's first-choice right-back if fit, the Lionesses need a plan B, just in case sports science discovers an injury so severe that she cannot play through it, unlike a seemingly minor problem of a – checks notes – fractured tibia at the Euros. England had the Manchester United captain, Maya Le Tissier, waiting in the wings this summer, someone Wiegman sees as a right-back despite the fact she has played every match for her club at centre-back. Also in contention is Tottenham's Ella Morris, who has impressed at right-back through England's youth teams but suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in May. England have been without a consistently selected left-back for a generation, with no one making that position their own since the centurion Rachel Unitt more than a decade ago. Alex Greenwood did well in that position against Spain but she commonly plays at centre-back for Manchester City, and that is where Wiegman had intended to play the 31-year-old before the tournament began. Niamh Charles, who also played well when called upon from the bench, will be another option, but she will want to start more games for Chelsea between now and the World Cup. Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion England are blessed with attacking options and Michelle Agyemang and Aggie Beever-Jones in particular are likely to provide Wiegman with welcome headaches during the next two seasons. Chloe Kelly's standing will also continue to rise, while Wiegman will be keen to give more opportunities to the technically gifted midfielders Grace Clinton and Jess Park, both of whom played prominent roles during the recent Nations League campaigns. World champions Spain will be a huge threat in Brazil, as will the hosts, who have been in good form and reached the Olympic final last year. The US, managed by Emma Hayes, will probably be the favourites, while the younger generation of stars breaking through with Germany and France will see them in contention too. Japan, who played some eye-catching football during their victory over the United States in the SheBelieves Cup in California in February, will also be a threat. England's qualifying campaign begins next year.
The Sun
13 hours ago
- The Sun
Popular F1 track aiming to return after three decades as two-phase redevelopment takes place
FORMULA ONE could be set to make a return to an old stomping ground after almost THREE DECADES absent, reports claim. The Buenos Aires Grand Prix could be added to the ever-expanding F1 calendar soon enough - but the track must first undergo two stages of redevelopment. 5 5 The first phase of the plan will see the Autódromo Oscar Alfredo Gálvez remodelled for the Moto GP by 2027. It will be the first time since 1999 that the capital city has hosted the race - which has been held in Termas de Rio Hondo since 2014. And the second phase will see the track also designed for F1 weekends. The flat circuit is being updated to be be fit for both riders and F1 drivers, with a full Grade A licence from the FIM needed. Two corners will be slightly widened to accommodate both formats. The last F1 race in Argentina was held in Buenos Aires at the Autódromo Oscar y Juan Gálvez in 1998. The introduction of Alpine star Franco Colapinto to F1 last season could be the trigger behind the return to Argentina. The 22-year-old was born and raised in the South American country, while the sport also penned a commercial deal with Argentine digital service provider Globant. 5 5 Globant CEO Martin Migoya added: "All the stars are kind of getting aligned, right? Because we closed the partnership with Formula 1 and then Franco got upgraded into Formula 1 and for us that is extremely important. "Those things happening with a lot of effort, with a lot of humbleness, with a lot of work and that at some point yields beautiful results. Glamorous TikToker Bianca Bustamante gives behind-the-scenes look at a Formula E race week "I think our partnership here, together with our support of Williams and Franco, is extremely important for our country, for our region and I think it will be beautiful to see how the things move forward." The track, opened in 1952, held 20 races between in 1953 and 1998 in Buenos Aires. There is currently one F1 race held in Latin America, the Sao Paulo Grand Prix in Brazil at the Interlagos Circuit. 5
