BUENOS AIRES, Argentina -- Substitutes Cristian Pavon and Pablo Perez scored in the last six minutes to lift Boca Juniors to a 2-0 victory over bitter rival River Plate on Sunday in the Superclasico, a victory that pushed Boca three points clear of River and San Lorenzo in the Argentine first division.
In a game at Boca's La Bombonera stadium that offered lots of chances for both sides, Pavon finally scored in the 84th minute on a sharp-angled shot from the left wing, beating River keeper Marcelo Barovero inside the near post. Perez added the clincher in the 87th, beating Barovero who was caught off his line.
This was only the first round in what Argentines are calling the "trilogy" between the Buenos Aires rivals.
The teams meet again Thursday at River's Monumental Stadium in the round of 16 of the Copa Libertadores. The return leg is May 14 at La Bombonera for the third match in 12 days.
Both sides had plenty of chances before the breakthrough goal in front of 45,000 fans.
Boca's Daniel Osvaldo hit the post in the 10th minute and teammate Andres Chavez missed a wide open net in the 30th.
Carlos Sanchez had River's best chance in the half when he hit the crossbar with a rising shot in the 34th.
River applied pressure early in the second half with Boca keeper Agustin Orion making a leaping save on Rodrigo Mora's shot in the 54th. Boca had chances, too, with Nicolas Lodeiro shooting just wide 10 minutes later as momentum moved back and forth.
In other Sunday matches: Atletico Rafaela defeated Defensa y Justicia 2-1, Tigre beat Nueva Chicago 2-0, and Banfield and Independiente drew 1-1.