Rojo (Red) in the Face

What turned out to be a hard match, resulted in the statistics being right. River Plate tied with Indpendiente of Avellaneda with a score of 1-1. Both teams lost an important chance to continue on the hunt for the Apertura championship. With only four games left in the season, River is left depending on itself and other results to obtain the championship. With the hottest team in Argentina at the moment, Lanus, the odds of winning are slim to none.

In front 46,000 fans in the Monumental, River needed a win to be in the top five teams of the league. With all the leading figures on the team in the starting line up, such as Ortega, Falcao, Belluschi, and Buananotte, everyone expected a hard match with Independiente’s powerful squad. Unfortunately, fatigue will later on play a huge role in the match.

Now, it comes as no surprise that River loses control of the ball every time a ball is centered or lobbied in the air. Defensor knew this a few days ago, and now almost every team that faces River is aware of this problem. It came as no surprise that Independiente’s goal would be caused by header. At the 18^th minute of the first half, Rolfi Montenegro, an ex-River player, centered an excellent lobby from his awarded free kick. Matheu headed the ball to Carrizo’s low, left corner post and the Rojo were up 1-0. At the 45^th minute of the first half, River tied the match, ironically by header through Belluschi. He was able to catch Indpediente’s goal keeper, Assmann (insert joke here..LOL), off guard and head in the ball at the same spot that River was scored on. The fans got really excited to start halftime tied, since all the chances by River to score were unlucky.

The second half proved to be sloppy and River’s attitude changed dramatically. Ortega did all that he could to move the team forward but fatigue took over him rather quickly. Ponzio could not cover Indepediente’s agile players, Sosa and Denis. Although there is never an excuse to lose, especially with a glorious championship team like River Plate, today’s game proved just that. With the Copa Sudamericana semifinal match with Arsenal on Tuesday, November 7^th, what will happen to this River? If they are tired now, Arsenal will definitely take advantage of this situation. My father told me something important and interesting after today’s match. He would rather see River lose to Arsenal at the semifinals than bring his and every fan’s hope up to see River in the final, and not come out successful. I wonder what our DT Passarella thinks?