Boca Juniors’ Leonel Flores impresses for Argentina after demanding three-day run
Argentina winger Flores completed an exceptional three-day club-and-country schedule by playing the entire second half of the Albiceleste’s Saturday-night victory over Burkina Faso at Estadio Monumental.
The 19-year-old operated on the left and helped create Argentina’s final two goals in the comprehensive win. He did not score, but his direct running and energy capped a demanding spell that has strengthened the impression he has made on both Lionel Scaloni and Boca coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena.
Three matches in four days
- Flores made his senior Argentina debut against Bolivia on Wednesday night.
- He then came off the bench for Boca Juniors against Unión de Santa Fe on Friday evening at La Bombonera.
- With Boca only narrowly in front when he entered, Flores changed the game by scoring in the 83rd minute from an Enner Valencia assist.
- He added another in stoppage time after a solo breakaway, completing Boca’s 3-0 win.
- Less than 24 hours later, Scaloni selected Flores for the full second half against Burkina Faso.
Boca push into second
Flores’ late double extended Boca’s unbeaten run in all competitions to 16 games and lifted Arruabarrena’s team into second place in Torneo Clausura Zone A.
Boca have 20 points from 11 matches, improving their position in the race for the domestic competition’s knockout rounds.
For Flores, the rapid turnaround from international debut to decisive Boca cameo and another Argentina appearance underlined his ability to meet the physical and mental demands of first-team football.
