1-0: River wins even when nobody expects it

Franco Armani had saved River. The crossbar had also saved River… River’s tie in Rosario against a Newell’s that in his stadium he came undefeated. Everything was over. The last additional minute was consumed, minute 95. That was when the least expected impact came…

Newell’s executed a free kick to the millionaire area. Armani cleared with his fists and a counterattack was born. Luis Suárez enabled Ezequiel Barco and he enabled Pablo Solari, who only had to push it into the empty goal, unusually abandoned by goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos. Yes, River wins even when nobody expects it. So it will be very difficult to stop it.

The 1-0 that River enjoyed sounded like an exaggerated award. It sounded like an inordinate punishment for Gabriel Heinze’s Newell’s. It is in sight: River has been enjoying a brutally positive wave. His coach Martín Demichelis gets everything. It is that the three protagonists of the play of the goal had entered from the bench of substitutes during the second half.

River has seven consecutive victories, in which they did not score goals. And they are more leaders than ever. It is that now they moved away to 6 points of the guard San Lorenzo. To understand the million-dollar production in this Argentine league, it is worth reviewing the distance that it took from the other four big teams in just 12 dates played: 6 points to San Lorenzo, 12 to Racing, 16 to Boca and 20 to Independiente.

Beyond River, there was a captivating classic, that of Avellaneda, which was hot not only because of the previous nuanced by the bars. On Saturday those of Racing set up a kind of wake, with fans disguised as ghosts with a red “B”, at the door of the Independiente headquarters, mocking its cruel economic, sports and institutional reality, with the resignation of its president Fabián Doman as last pathetic episode. And this Sunday, a while before the game, those from Independiente went to the Racing headquarters, lit flares and chanted threatening songs.

Then they played. The Libertadores de América was packed with Red fans. The support was touching. Independiente, who had Ricardo Zielinski’s debut as coach, started it off winning with a great goal from Martín Cauteruccio from outside the area. But Racing tied it with a controversial penalty kicked masterfully by Matías Rojas. Had Javier Vallejo’s foul on Facundo Mura been inside or outside the area?

After River’s victory, guard San Lorenzo, with his short squad, visited the tough Talleres in Córdoba. And it was 0-0. The game had few situations. It could have won either of them. Augusto Batalla, Cyclone goalkeeper, ratified his great moment by saving Michael Bustos from a penalty.

The other Sunday games, without goals

The other two games on Sunday, Vélez – Barracas Central and Unión – Tigre, ended tied 0-0. Today they will close the day Platense – Colón, Banfield – Central Córdoba, Sarmiento – Arsenal, Atlético Tucumán – Rosario Central and Godoy Cruz – Lanús.

The positions show River as a comfortable leader with 30 points. San Lorenzo has 24. Then, with 21, Talleres, Defensa y Justicia, Belgrano and Rosario Central. Then, with 18, Argentinos, Lanús, Racing, Estudiantes and Newell’s. On date 12, the message of the Argentine league is already very clear. There is a championship that River plays. Then, there is the tournament that the rest of the teams play…

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