A bigger Monumental for a River that as a team is still in the growth stage. In addition to the expansion of a stadium transformed into an imposing coliseum, the biggest news on the field is that River won by two penalties. Gallardo said goodbye without remembering when was the last time one had been sanctioned in favor of him. They spent 37 games, since Julián Álvarez converted one once morest Platense, on May 8, 2022, that River did not have a penalty.
A 2-1 that required VAR certification, with a suspense that took the breath away of more than 83,000 fans, in the last play of the game, when the eighth minute added was completed. The technological cabal determined that Heredia was off-side -the attack ended with the definition of Herrera- when in the simple television repetition it was noticed that Enzo Díaz enabled, he was in the same line. The minutiae of the VAR, which validated the advanced position charged by the assistant judge, put the signature on River’s triumph. Already in the first half he had come out favored from the VAR tombola, with a goal not conceded to Argentinos, scored by Verón, who allegedly had an ankle found off-side.
About the controversies, Martin Demichelis He avoided any reference and anticipated that it will be a common position: “I did not see the controversies. They are going to listen to me little and nothing to talk regarding the controversies of the referees. I don’t have social networks, so what is said during the week does not reach me because I also have to get fully involved in preparing for the difficult game once morest Tigre”.
The works of the Monumental are more advanced than the construction of the new Demichelis River. He lacks a bit of everything, while the victory over Argentinos allows him to gain time and peace of mind, in similar doses.
“I am left with a very pleasant image of the Monumental, Let me reward the behavior of the people, a great harmony in the River Plate world, they made themselves felt in the most difficult moments of the team. I’ll take the result, there are many to improve. I’m left with the reaction of the boys. The desire to move forward with the situation ”, was the balance of Demichelis.
Best of the match
The team had more will than football volume to reverse a disadvantage. It is logical that, so early, this is not the definitive River. It is also possible to imagine that outside there are names that will be able to enhance it, give it more scope. In that list you have to write down Mammana, Paulo Diaz, De la Cruz; this Sunday he had minutes once more palavecino, that provides solutions in various sectors of the midfield. simon It is another more than valid alternative.
Demichelis had said that he prefers to make changes in victory, rather than in defeat. Consistent with those words, he maintained the same formation that he lost to Belgrano. The confirmation of the coach’s confidence did not translate into a vindictive position for the team, which in the first half continued to be immersed in the mist that trapped it in Córdoba.
To overcome Argentinos and establish a difference, you have to play well, in a sustained manner. River was far from achieving it in those first 45 minutes. Milito’s team covered the spaces well, put pressure on the rival start, had a presence. He showed the personality that the occasion required.
River’s game was stuck, confused, not very fluid. Aliendro opened up more on the left and expanded Enzo Pérez’s radius of action in the central zone, while Nacho Fernández positioned himself as a striker. But River lacked just that, link, sum of passes.
Except for a midfield shot by Paradela, Argentinos did not have any major shocks. In a close match and with very tight lines, it was not surprising that the opening of the scoring was with the ball stopped. Torrén executed a free kick with the technique of a No. 10, with just the right angle for Kevin Mac Allister’s cross header.
A header from Borja did not dispel the thickness of River’s game in the first stage. A reaction was imposed and Demichelis looked for it with a couple of variants. Rojas entered, received by the fans with an effusiveness for all that they missed him while he recovered from a double fracture, and Barco, a dribbler to break schemes, to whom Demichelis said have apologized for not including it as the owner.
River found a quick tie, without the need for a football improvement. Rapallini interpreted as a penalty a fall by Enzo Pérez, barely surpassed by Ávalos. Borja executed it strong and in the middle; minutes later he was replaced with a muscular problem by Rondón. Demichelis commented that the Colombian’s left hamstring strained and that he was right to ask for the change, to avoid a more serious injury.
River had another vivacity, without being completely coordinated. Argentinos did not leave the game, but he was greatly conditioned by the hand that Mac Allister crossed to cut off a cross from Barco. Another penalty, which Barco himself, brimming with confidence to take charge, made it 2-1.
The substitution of Enzo Pérez revealed the lack of River for the position of central midfielder due to the serious injuries to Kranevitter and Zuculini, and with Aliendro replaced. Palavecino, a versatile player and always ready for whatever is ordered, was located in the central circle.
Argentinos never gave up, they knew that River was not strong enough to hold the 2-1. “We need to free ourselves, football is knowing how to handle emotions, filming and games are missing ”, was the mitigation that Demichelis exposed. In the Monumental they wanted to speed up the clock because the team did not give guarantees, the uncertainties were greater than the certainties. The victory came wrapped in controversy until the last second. The pride of the fans went more through a stellar Monumental than through a team on pins. Those of the VAR.
