BUENOS AIRES, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Juan Miritello scored twice as Defensa y Justicia rose to the top of Group A with a 3-2 away win over Newell's Old Boys in Argentina's Apertura tournament on Saturday.
The 27-year-old forward put his side ahead by firing the ball into an empty net after Newell's goalkeeper Gabriel Arias rushed off his line during a defensive mix-up.
Miritello doubled the lead on the stroke of halftime, heading in at the far post after Juan Gutierrez's cross from the right flank.
The visitors were irrepressible and Ayrton Portillo made it 3-0 just after the hour with a composed finish on the counterattack after Gutierrez's perfectly weighted through ball.
Matias Coccaro pulled a goal back when he latched onto Facundo Guch's looping header with an athletic overhead kick from eight yards.
Oscar Salomon further reduced the deficit seconds before the final whistle, bundling home during a scramble in the six-yard box after Franco Garcia's delivery from a corner.
The result leaves Defensa y Justicia with eight points from four games while Newell's is last in the 15-team group with one point.
Elsewhere in Argentina's top flight on Saturday, Belgrano won 1-0 at home to Banfield, Tigre prevailed 4-1 at River Plate, Racing edged to a 2-1 home win over Argentinos Juniors and Aldosivi was held to a 1-1 home draw by Rosario Central. ■
