Pellegrini brace seals Velez win over Boca

Matias Pellegrini struck two second-half goals as Velez Sarsfield secured a 2-1 home win over Boca Juniors in Argentina's Apertura tournament on Sunday.

Former Inter Miami winger Pellegrini put the visitors ahead just after the hour with a glancing header following Diego Valdes' cross from the right wing.

The pair combined again three minutes later when Pellegrini finished a swift counterattack with a first-time strike into the bottom-left corner after Valdes' through ball.

Iker Zufiaurre pulled a goal back in the 90th minute by curling a 25-yard drive into the top-right corner.

But the hosts held on to secure their third win of the campaign and move two points clear at the top of Group A, four points clear of fifth-placed Boca.

Elsewhere in Argentina's top flight on Sunday, Gimnasia Mendoza won 1-0 at home to Instituto, Huracan clinched a 1-0 home win over San Lorenzo, Sarmiento prevailed 2-1 at home to Atletico Tucuman and Independiente won 1-0 at Platense.