Nine-man Independiente go three clear

Independiente, who have 24 points after 11 matches, went ahead with a shot from 40 metres by Lionel Nunez in the ninth minute.

Colon's veteran striker Esteban Fuertes equalised with a header in the 20th as Independiente goalkeeper Adrian Gabbarini conceded his first goal in six matches.

Independiente centre-back Leonel Galeano was sent off after half an hour for bringing down an opponent on the edge of the box, leading to a defensive reshuffle by coach Americo Gallego with striker Nunez coming off.

Colon's Marcelo Goux was dismissed a minute after halftime and Independiente captain Dario Gandin left his team with nine men in the 73rd when he was shown the red card after a second booking for pulling back an opponent by his shirt.

Second-placed Godoy Cruz were beaten 2-1 by Estudiantes, who are third a point further back, on Friday.

Boca Juniors, three days after the joy of beating arch-rivals River Plate 2-0, were stunned 4-1 by Chacarita Juniors.

Chacarita gave debutant coach Mauro Navas a perfect start after he replaced Fernando Gamboa, who was sacked last weekend following four defeats in a row.

They recovered from a first half deficit after Matias Gimenez scored for Boca from Juan Roman Riquelme's fine through ball into the middle of the box.

PALERMO ANGER

Striker Facundo Parra scored twice, equalising two minutes into the second half and making it 3-1 in the 81st when he deftly beat the offside trap to race through and steer the ball past keeper Javier Garcia.

In between, Parra had a 56th-minute penalty saved by Garcia only for Nicolas Ramirez to head in the rebound. Boca's Ezequiel Munoz was sent off for the foul that led to the penalty.

The icing on the cake for Chacarita, playing with ever increasing confidence against a listless Boca, came in the 87th minute with substitute Sebastian Sciorilli's superb lob from the edge of the box over Garcia and into the top far corner.

Sciorilli's joy was tempered by a booking for taking off his shirt to celebrate that led to a red card in stoppage time for tripping an opponent.

Boca striker Martin Palermo did not disguise his annoyance at being substituted 20 minutes from time by coach Abel Alves, whose respite from criticism with the win over River has quickly dissipated.

"Why are you taking me off if we're losing?" an angry Palermo was quoted as saying to Alves by the sports daily Ole on its website.

Boca, who had not lost to Chacarita for 10 years, have gone 11 away matches without winning and are the team with most goals conceded in the championship, 22 in 11 matches. They are two from bottom with 11 points.

Title holders Banfield came from behind to beat Gimnasia 3-2 in La Plata on Saturday with two goals from striker Ruben Ramirez and a 73rd-minute winner by Uruguay's Sebastian Fernandez.

Racing Club