Palermo scores Boca record-tying 180th goal; River's match suspended by rain

Martin Palermo scored a club record-tying 180th goal for Boca Juniors and the perennial Buenos Aires power downed Gimnasia y Esgrima 1-0 on Sunday to move into a share of the Argentine league lead with Velez Sarsfield.

Palermo's 41st-minute penalty equaled the goal-scoring exploits of Francisco Varallo, who played with Boca in the late 1930s.

Gimnasia frantically pressed for an equalizer, but was thwarted by Boca goalkeeper Mauricio Caranta, who made three big saves to preserve the victory.

Elsewhere, River Plate was leading 3-2 at Monumental Stadium against San Martin of San Juan when heavy rain forced a suspension of the match with nine minutes remaining. Sebastian Abreu, Diego Buonanotte and Cristian Nasutti gave River the lead. Sebastian Brusco, on a penalty, and Martin Bravo replied for San Martin.

The Argentine Football Association must decide later this week when the match will be finished. If River's lead holds, it would join Boca and Velez atop the table with 10 points each after four rounds.

Also in the fourth round, Velez drew 0-0 with Gimnasia de Jujuy. San Lorenzo got its first victory in four matches, beating Estudiantes 3-1 off a pair of goals by Adrian Gonzalez and another by Santiago Hirsig.

In other matches, it was Arsenal 3, Banfield 1; Huracan 1, Rosario Central 1; Olimpo 3, Lanus 2; Tigre 2, Colon 1; Independiente 2, Argentinos Juniors 0; Newell's Old Boys 1, Racing Club 0.