Mariano Pavone electrified the visiting River fans in Santa Fe last night with a heroic last minute goal against Colon. After being down 0-1 at the first half, River managed to put itself together and score two important goals in the second half for the win. Erik Lamela and Mariano Pavone gave River another important win to elevate the squad in the standings and have back-to-back-wins. As usual, River fans were the noisier group in the stadium and clearly dominated the atmosphere with chants and songs. It was a great night for the Millonarios!
It was great to see Mariano Pavone score again for River, especially since he was struggling to maintain a strong presence on the attack. For weeks, he has been recovering and training with the squad; working on bettering his personal injury and perfecting his skills. In last week’s match against Olimpo, he had numerous chances to score but he was unsuccessful. This pattern of inconsistency took a toll on him, and he dedicated himself to better his position. Last night’s match against Colon was almost another unsuccessful night until the moment he scored the winning goal at stoppage time. Could this be the start of a ‘new’ Pavone? Let us all hope it is.
Not to be left out, Erik Lamela was also responsible for River’s win. The youngster has been getting more time on the pitch, and he has taken full advantage of it. With a collective pass-to-pass play from River’s midfield, the ball finally reached Lamela as he lobbied the ball over Colon’s goalkeeper. It was an amazing goal right from the start as River demonstrated a tactic not seen in past games. Each player passed the ball to each other with grace, and pushed the ball forward until it reached its destination behind the net.
The absence of Matias Almeyda in this match was considered a big setback for River, but the team managed to overcome the odds and win the match. Walter Acevedo replaced Almeyda’s position, and he did a great job performing on the pitch. The rest of the team, in particular the defense, were on the spot last night and they showcased control. The way things are going, I wouldn’t be surprised if Coach J.J. Lopez is granted a permanent spot as head coach.