Enner Valencia hat-trick sends Boca past Racing in Copa Argentina

Enner Valencia scored three headers after coming on as a substitute, and Boca Juniors beat Racing 3-2 in the Copa Argentina quarter-final after trailing 2-0. The third goal came in the 95th minute.

The match was played at the Gigante de Arroyito in Rosario. Racing, coached by Juan Pablo Vojvoda, led through Gastón Lodico on 19 minutes, with a goal straight from a corner, according to Mundo Deportivo. Adrián Martínez made it 2-0 on 47 minutes, finishing with a volley after another corner. Vojvoda's plan had kept Leandro Paredes quiet and closed off Boca's full-backs.

Rodolfo Arruabarrena changed that with his bench. Valencia came on in the 11th minute of the second half, along with Sebastián Villa and Carlos Palacios. Valencia scored on 72 minutes and again on 80. The winner arrived with about ten seconds of stoppage time left, by Yahoo Sports' count.

Valencia is 36. He made his Boca debut on 18 August after leaving Pachuca and had gone six games without a direct goal contribution. He then scored and set up a goal against Central Córdoba, and drew a blank against São Paulo before the Racing match.

Paredes, the 32-year-old midfielder, spoke after the final whistle. "We want to fight for every championship and win everything," he said. Mundo Deportivo noted that Boca had come into the tie after a heavy away win over San Lorenzo in the league.

Boca meet Banfield in the semi-final. The other tie is Atlético Tucumán against the winner of Platense v Estudiantes.

Boca are also fifth in Group A of the Clausura with 17 points, inside the qualification places with four rounds left. Next in the Copa Sudamericana are the semi-final legs against Vasco, on 13 and 20 October, the second in Rio de Janeiro. If Valencia keeps his form, Arruabarrena may have a striker to rely on in those games. Until now, that role has not been settled.