Enner Valencia hat-trick fires Boca past Racing in 3-2 Copa Argentina comeback | OneFootball

Enner Valencia hit a late hat-trick off the bench as Boca came from 0-2 down to beat Racing 3-2 in the Copa Argentina quarter-finals, sealing a place in the semi-final.

Racing created little but made it count, first when Lódico scored directly from a corner after goalkeeper Leandro Brey misjudged the flight, the same stadium where Ángel Di María produced the feat months earlier. Maravilla Martínez then converted from close range for 0-2. According to LaNumer12.com.ar, Valencia earned a perfect rating on a night he will not forget.

With the tie slipping away, Rodolfo Arruabarrena sent on Sebastián Villa, Enner Valencia and Carlos Palacios and the game flipped. Lautaro Blanco’s corner found Valencia to start the fightback, before Villa connected with the Ecuadorian for the equaliser. Palacios then delivered for Valencia to complete his treble, all three goals with his head in under 20 minutes.

Brey was criticised for the opener despite two good saves and remains uncertain on crosses. Leandro Lozano stood out at the back, while Leandro Paredes was influential in midfield and Milton Delgado was busy. Alan Velasco struggled and was denied a penalty that both referee and VAR ignored, Leonel Flores threatened without end product and Miguel Merentiel saw little of the ball.

Palacios looked sharp on his return, laying on the winner for his second assist in six games this year. Arruabarrena’s plan misfired for the first 70 minutes, but his bench changed everything. Boca remain alive on all fronts after a historic turnaround.

Source: LaNumer12.com.ar

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