Clausura 2009: Racing Club 1 – 0 River Plate

By: Christian | April 7th, 2009

A pathetic performance against an even more pathetic opponent resulted in defeat this past Saturday for River Plate, in a 1-0 loss to local rivals Racing Club. The result puts los millonarios 4 points back from leaders Lanús in the Clausura table, and leaves doubts as to whether the team has the tenacity to fight for the title.

As usual, it was the same story this weekend at the Cilindro. An awful first half display allowed the 17th minute goal from Racing’s Pablo Lugüercio that would seal River’s fate on the afternoon. To make matters even worse, River suffered a bizarre string of injuries to two of their starters, with Augusto Fernández and Facundo Quiroga both being replaced early in the game.

The second half would see a slightly better effort from la banda, and in the dying minutes of the match, it appeared that at minimum, an equalizer would be on the way. It would not materialize however, and Racing would earn an undeserved win, gift-wrapped on a platter from a clueless River.

And so that what our season has come to – disappointment at not being able to earn a draw against a team whose only aspiration this season is to avoid relegation for the second consecutive year. That may be a fine for smaller clubs like Racing (both Avellaneda teams have been so poor of late that it really be be remamed, Argentina’s Big 3), but River holds a higher standard. We shouldn’t be in a position where earninng a draw, excuse me, coming back from a goal down to earn a draw, is the best we can ask for. I can accept a 5-1 paliza from San Lorenzo when we are simply outplayed. But to lose in such a pitiful way to a middling team that has one foot in La Segunda is unforgivable.

So now what? With Diego Buonaotte’s ankle injury putting him out for 3 weeks along with Fernández (ankle, 3 weeks), and Quiroga (knee,the rest of the season!), River now face must-win situations in the Copa Libertadores and in the Superclasico with fewer players at their disposal. Time is running out, patience is wearing thin, and all the while the name and integrity of River is being soiled by a half-hearted bunch who are turning Argentina’s greatest squad into something quickly approaching farce.

2009 Clausura Fixture 8
Racing Club 1 – 0 River Plate

Scoring Summary:
Pablo Lugüercio (RC), 17th

River Plate:
Mariano Barbosa
Paulo Ferrari, Gustavo Cabral, Facundo Quiroga, Rodrigo Archubi
Augusto Fernández, Oscar Ahumada, Matías Abelairas
Diego Buonanotte
Mauro Rosales, Cristian Fabbiani.

Substitutions:
Diego Barrado for Fernández, 24th
Nicolás Sánchez for Quiroga, 38th
Marcelo Gallardo for Buonanotte, 58th

Highlights