Five players were sent off and Carlos Tevez gave away a penalty that handed River Plate a 1-0 win over Boca Juniors in a far from amicable seaside ‘friendly’ between Argentina’s biggest rivals on Saturday.

Tevez blocked a free-kick with his arm in the 17th minute and Leonardo Pisculichi converted the penalty in the traditional off-season clash at the Atlantic resort of Mar de Plata. “In four days, five sent off, in two matches, we must grow [up],” Tevez told reporters.

The champions Boca, who had three players dismissed on Saturday, had another two sent off in a 4-2 defeat by Racing Club in Mar del Plata in midweek.

The Argentina full-back Jonathan Silva, signed by Boca from Sporting of Portugal, was sent off 10 minutes into his debut for a lunge on Gabriel Mercado which forced the River defender out of the game with an injured ankle. Boca were down to eight men against River’s 11 by the 78th minute after two more defenders were sent off, Gino Peruzzi for a foul and Daniel Diaz for insulting referee Patricio Loustau.

River then had their centre-back, Jonathan Maidana, dismissed for head-butting Tevez during an argument that sparked a melee among rival players and Pisculichi was also sent off for his involvement. “Neither of us behaved well,” Tevez said referring to himself and Maidana. “You regret it afterwards because it generates violence outside [the pitch].”

Loustau blew his whistle for 40 fouls and booked nine other players during the friendly.