With the title secured for two days, River plate fell this Sunday at home 2-3 against the Defense and Justice in one of the outstanding matches of the 24th and penultimate day of the Professional League of Argentine soccer tournament.
On a night marked by the prayer of the “millionaire” supporter for Marcelo Gallardo to stay at the institution and renew his bond as a coach, River suffered its third defeat of the championship.
Walter Bou, Miguel Ángel Merentiel and Franco Paredes scored for the winner, while Enzo Fernández and Braian Romero did it for the ‘Millionaire’, who also had a special farewell day for Leonardo Ponzio, who played his last match at the Monumental stadium since at the end of the season he will hang up his boots.
Both Ponzio and Gallardo were the main protagonists of the night with the constant ovations of the local public who recognized the career as a footballer to the first and begged the coach to stay in a decision that has not yet been communicated about the future.
In another of the games this Saturday of the 24th day of the Argentine tournament, Boca Juniors equaled 1-1 on Sunday as a visitor to bottom Sarandí Arsenal with goals from Juan Ramírez for ‘Xeneize’ and Bruno Sepúlveda for the host.
However, with the draws this Sunday of Estudiantes (4-4 with Gimnasia in the La Plata classic) and Independiente (1-1 with San Lorenzo), Boca secured their classification to the next Copa Libertadores 2022 beyond the result next Wednesday in the final of the Argentine Cup against Talleres de Córdoba.
On Friday, at the beginning of this day, Vélez Sarsfield equalized without goals with the Board on a very special night because Ricardo ‘Ricky’ Álvarez said goodbye to football by hanging up his boots and Thiago Almada said goodbye to the supporters of ‘Fortín ‘because he will continue his career at Atlanta United of the American MLS.
In other outstanding results of this date, the Talleres prevailed as a visitor by 1-2 against Sarmiento in Junín and remains firm in a campaign that is close to leaving it runner-up; Fernando Gago’s Racing Club lost again on Saturday, this time 1-0 in their visit to Huracán; and Independiente and San Lorenzo in addition to equalizing 1-1 were participants in an emotional afternoon where the ‘Rojo’ stadium was renamed ‘Liberators of America Ricardo Enrique Bochini’.
This Monday there will be another emotional day in Rosario because Maximiliano ‘La Fiera’ Rodríguez will play his last game as a professional in the match that Newell’s Old Boys will face Banfield at Coloso Marcelo Bielsa.
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