Photo: Alejandro Santa Cruz).
River defeated Arsenal, from Sarand, 1-0 on Sunday at the Monumental, in a match valid for the 12th. date of the Professional Football League, and remains expectantly in the top positions of the championship.
The midfielder Emiliano Mndez, against his fence, scored the winning goal for River.
Marcelo Gallardo’s team achieved the second consecutive victory (the fourth over the last five games), reached 24 points and is escorting the leader Talleres, from Cordoba (26). While Arsenal is last, with 8 units, and despite having conceded a goal, today, in the last four games, they did not convert either.
The result was a prize for a River that tried all the time. From the beginning he planted himself in the vicinity of the area of an Arsenal determined to defend the zero in his arc.
Those led by Israel Damonte stopped with a 4-5-1 that cost River to dismantle. Arsenal hampered the projections of Fabrizio Angileri and Santiago Simn, the youth who improvised in that position before the injury of Milton Casco and the poor performance of Alex Vigo, who was a substitute.
River is on the prowl and is more candidate than ever (Photo: Alejandro Santa Cruz).
A shot by Julin lvarez cleared by Gastn Benavdez on the line, Alejandro Medina’s save against Angileri on a free kick and Benjamin Rollheiser’s shot on the crossbar were River’s most incisive plays in the first half.
Marcelo Gallardo’s team, with a good footing in the midfield through Nicols De La Cruz, Agustn Palavecino, Jorge Carrascal and Rollheiser, tried through the center, forced by Arsenal.
River, with Enzo Prez as the brain, made good plays, with first-rate touches, but he lacked the final stitch and greater precision in the last touch.
Photo: Alejandro Santa Cruz).
In the second half River continued with its strategy and Arsenal did not leave the script.
The “Millionaire” attempts continued with a header from Paulo Daz and a mid-distance shot from Palavecino.
Time became an ally of Arsenal and an enemy of River, who already had Matas Surez on the court, on his return after synovitis in his right knee, along with Braian Romero.
Julin Álvarez could not find spaces and River’s illusions in attack vanished until the goal arrived.
A good combination between Surez and Angileri forced the error of Mendez, before lvarez stalked, and the steering wheel became its own fence.
Photo: Alejandro Santa Cruz).
With the goal, Arsenal left their area, but it was too late. A petty scheme condemn him to deepen his bad moment in the championship.
River could have increased the advantage in the closing with a shot from Enzo Fernndez that Gonzalo Goi deflected to the corner.
River’s victory was fair because he always sought, tried and overpowered Arsenal with authority. He suffered because he was not strong enough, but in a formation that had some changes, he did not show cracks.
And this time, against a rival who did not let him play, he was able to resolve the lawsuit. Luck was with him a bit, but in this kind of game it is also necessary.
On the next date, River will travel to Santiago del Estero to face Central Crdoba and Arsenal to receive Lans, which if this Monday beats Newell’s to be a leader with Talleres.
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