Unbeaten Road Record Comes To An End

A late goal for Boca Unidos added insult to injury as River, who had numerous chances, falls for the first time on the road. 

If there is one thing to take away from this season it will be the tremendous support River has received in every port of call, nationwide. Corrientes was no exception with a sold out stadium anxious to see El Millonario up close and in person. To an extent, this team has fed off that enthusiasm and River made it nearly to the halfway point of the season with an unbeaten record on the road. 

The stage was set and River didn’t waste time getting down to work. For almost the entire game, River outplayed their hosts but failed to find the back of the net. The second half saw River come close to scoring on a number of occasions but as the game died off, a single point seemed in to be in the cards for this trip up north. 

Then Leandro Chichizola happened. The goalie, who by all accounts has been solid this season, had another momentary slip up. More often than not, when it comes to the keeper, all it takes is one slip up and you find yourself behind on the scoreboard. Chichizola paid the price again, this time on a corner in the first minute of injury time. He failed to clear the cross, leaving the ball loose in the area begging to be tapped in. Up to that point, Boca Unidos had very little to contribute to the game highlights, yet in a split second they managed to steal all three points. 

Removing the last minutes of the game from the analysis, it is fair to say River played well. Carlos Sanchez returned to form, Fernando Cavenaghi got himself in scoring position several times, and Alejandro Dominguez continues to show his superior level of skill. Ezequiel Cirigliano continues to own the midfield and Lucas Ocampos was active in attack.

Yet there are still nagging issues with this team. The lack of a killer attack coupled with a shaky defense have turned the most popular team in the country into an inconsistent side that is beginning to hear rumblings of discontent from the millions of supporters.   

Not all is lost though with River still in second place, just two points behind Instituto. Next River plays in the newly reborn Copa Argentina, against Ariel Ortega and Defensores de Belgrano of the third division. The game will take place in San Juan and, as expected, will be played in front of a sold out crowd. Then River closes out 2011 hosting Patronato on Sunday before the holiday break. For the sake of enjoying the holidays, let’s hope River end the year on a two game winning streak.