Clausura 2009: River Plate 2 – 1 San Martín

By: Christian | March 24th, 2009

Radmel Falcao was the hero of the Monumental this past Sunday, scoring the winning goal in stoppage time to give River an emotional 2-1 victory over San Martín de Tucumán. The result leaves River one point behind current Clausura leaders Lanús, and improves their league record to 4-2-1.

With the score even at 1-1 deep in jury time in the second half, River were handed a lifeline when a penalty after Diego Buonanotte was taken down. Marcello Gallardo was getting set to place the ball for his kick but Falcao intervened, asking to take the penalty instead. Gallardo complied without hesitation, patting Falcao on the head and wishing him good luck. He would need it, for River, despite coming back from 1-0 down after a first half own goal, and having a one man advantage after San Martín’s Pablo De Muner was sent off in the 88th minute, were well on their way to a draw, a disappointing outcome that would have dealt River’s title ambitions a massive blow. With time running out, the penalty would be River’s last opportunity of the game to secure the points needed to keep their season hopes alive.

Falcao would not disappoint. Slicing the ball just past the diving keeper, el Tigre would give River the victory they so desperately needed, and he capped his winning strike with a raucous celebration in front of the terraces.

The win could not have come at a better time. After a miserable defeat in the Copa Libertadores last week, River will now go into this upcoming World Cup qualifier break with a renewed spirit and optimism before entering the second half of the season. Instead of a cloud of regret over their head about dropping points against an average opponent (and let’s face it, the only way to lose to a team like San Martín is to give them a goal, which is precisely what River did in the first minute!), River can hopefully retain some of Falcao’s enthusiasm to see them through to the end of the campaign.

Make no mistake though, this was more a victory than a deserved one. River were tame during the first half with little input from Buonanotte and Rosales, and only until the second half were they able to mount some sort of comeback, which came very close to not happening. The own goal in the first half would have been great comedy on any other day. Defender Facundo Quiroga headed a ball away on a set-piece straight into the outstretched arms of keeper Mariano Barbosa, but either because his view was blocked or because he was caught completely asleep, the ball simply passed through his fingers on its way into the net. A horrible goal that had it gone unanswered, could have led to an unbearable loss.

But past is past, and we look forward now to the rest of the season. River are only one point off leaders Lanús, whom we have yet to play, and yes, we are still alive in the Copa. What River needs to do is to built off this strong league start, which admittedly has had more to do with luck than skill, and, and take the pitch in two weeks against Racing with the same heart that Falcao took with that penalty. Heart, and huevos.

2009 Clausura Fixture 7
River Plate 2 – 1 San Martín de Tucumán

Scoring Summary:
Facundo Quiroga, o.g. (RP), 1st
Gustavo Cabral (RP), 60th
Radamel Falcao García (RP), 95th

River Plate:
Mariano Barbosa
Paulo Ferrari, Gustavo Cabral, Facundo Quiroga, Cristian Villagra
Augusto Fernández, Oscar Ahumada, Matías Abelairas
Diego Buonanotte
Mauro Rosales, Radamel Falcao

Substitutions:
Marcelo Gallardo for Abelairas, 56th
Gustavo Fernández for Rosales, 56th
Diego Barrado for Fernández, 73rd

Highlights