Apertura 2010: River Plate Stumble On The Road in 1-0 Loss

It seems that for every step River Plate takes towards the title, they just as easily take two huge steps back.

Needing a win to keep their place atop the league, River instead fell 1-0 away to Newell’s Old Boys Sunday afternoon. The result leaves River in a 4-way tie for third place with 13 points, and stuck once more in the relegation zone.

Newell’s scored the lone goal in the 10th minute, but despite clear chances throughout the match, River simply could not find a response. Josepmir Ballón, Alexis Ferrero, and Rogelio Funes Mori all had golden opportunities to give los millonarios the tie or even the lead, but a strong performance from NOB keeper Peratta and poor finishing in front of goal meant River would leave Rosario with an undeserved loss.

And so River continues to be their own worst enemy. Having hardly faced the strongest competition in the league, la banda continue to struggle week after week, as much in their losses as in their wins. While the club is much improved from season’s past, the line between a win and a loss is so thin that it’s impossible to see where the team is going. Had they won on Sunday, I doubt their performance would have been much different.

The title is still not out of sight, and so long as River remain within a game of first place, I believe they will have a legitimate shot at winning the league. That is of course, if they stop shooting themselves in the foot.

This weekend, River will host newly-promoted Quilmes. Guaranteed three points, right? Right??

Category: 2010 Apertura, Team News