River finished the year on the winning side as the Millonarios visited a poor Tigre in Victoria. With two goals by River’s youngest stars, Rogelio Funes Mori and Diego Buonanotte respectively, River was able to also achieve a tournament milestone not achieved since February of this year; two consecutive wins. Although it could be regarded as a minor milestone, it is an indicator that things are looking bright for River for the upcoming year.
Tigre, hosting River for the last game of the Torneo Apertura, had its worse campaign after being promoted to the First Division. In addition, it was also Diego Cagna’s last match as head coach, so Tigre wanted to see him off with a win. Fortunately, River was also determined to end the tournament on a high note. Sporting the same starting line-up from last Thursday’s win against Racing Club, River surprised the fans with a new revelation in the club. A young, 18-year-old Rogelio Funes Mori left good impressions in his match against Racing Club. A product from River’s younger divisions, Funes Mori, along with Diego Buonanotte, proved to be a dynamic duo up front. Their hard work paid off in the 47th minute of the first half as Funes Mori scored his first goal since making it to the top division of the club.
As Tigre struggled to find its ground on the pitch, Ariel Ortega and Matias Almeyda did an excellent job guiding the team on the pitch. Their experience and leadership skills have been producing great results with the younger players. Coach Leonardo Astrada has recognized these attributes week after week, and his confidence in them is shown on the field. As a result, Diego Buonanotte scored River’s last goal of the year in the 13th minute of the second half following a great free kick past Tigre’s goalkeeper. This look positive for River in the upcoming year despite missing the Copa Libertadores as River did not gain enough points. Who knows, the break is probably what River needs; to focus on itself.
