[goldenHuddlestone]

Veteran striker Jose Luis Calderon scored a hat-trick to help Estudiantes trounce nine-man arch-rivals Gimansia-La Plata 7-0 and stay in the Argentine championship title race on Sunday. Boca Juniors stayed top with a 3-1 win over Newells Old Boys in which striker Guillermo Barros Schelotto scored and was sent off, while four players were dismissed in San Lorenzos 3-0 win over Godoy Cruz. Former Lazio and Manchester United midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron created two goals as Estudiantes demolished their old enemies from the city of La Plata.

Verons free kick found Diego Galvan who stooped to head the opening goal in the third minute before he set up the third for Mariano Pavone in the 34th minute. In between, Calderon notched his first, pouncing as the Gimnasia defence hesitated. Galvan added a fourth five minutes after the restart before two more Calderon goals and one from Pablo Luguercio completed the rout. Gimnasia had German Basualdo and Matias Escobar dismissed in the second half.

"You never dream of a win like this," said Estudiantes coach Diego Simeone, whose team scored only 11 goals in their first 10 games. Gimnasia coach Pedro Troglio said: "We never thought we could play as badly." Estudiantes stayed third with 22 points from 11 games, three behind Boca. Barros Schelotto set Boca on their way, scoring in the 32nd minute from Rodrigo Palacios pass, but was dismissed two minutes before halftime for kicking Adrian Peralta from behind in an off-the-ball incident. Newells also reached halftime with 10 men after Paraguay midfielder Diego Gavilan was dismissed on the half hour for a second bookable offence.

Second-half goals from defender Daniel Diaz and striker Nicolas Bertolo put Boca 3-0 ahead, Paraguay forward Oscar Cardozo scoring a late consolation for Newells. River Plate, who beat Banfield 1-0 away, stayed one point behind Boca in second place. Ernesto Farias scored the winner at the start of the second half after being set up by Marcelo Gallardos 50-metre run. Racing Club, 1-0 winners at Belgrano, are fourth with 20 points followed by Independiente, Arsenal and San Lorenzo on 19. Striker Ismael Sosa scored a hat-trick, including two in the last three minutes, as Independiente came from behind to beat Nueva Chicago 3-2.

Referee Daniel Gimenez, known as the Sergeant, lived up to his nickname by producing four red cards at San Lorenzo. He dismissed Godoy Cruzs Juan Herbella in the 11th minute for protesting after Andres Silvera had scored San Lorenzos first, followed by San Lorenzo defender Pablo Quatrocchi for a second bookable offence in the 23rd. Godoy Cruzs Enzo Perez followed in the 67th minute for a second bookable offence and San Lorenzos Cristian Tula was dismissed in the 78th minute for taking his shirt off as he celebrated scoring San Lorenzos third. Ezequiel Lavazzi scored the other goal for Oscar Ruggeris team.