With rain pouring down nonstop, the look on every player said it all. In addition, the glass-eyes looked from our coach confirmed a sad reality for River. Once again, River is eliminated from an international competition, this time in the preliminary round of the Copa Nissan Sudamericana. Visiting Lanus, River needed to win by two goals to advance and end its thirteen-game streak losing as the ‘visitor’. Of course, not much could be expected from a team that struggles to win confidence every week. To add salt to the wound, the player that scored was an ex-River forward name Santiago Salcedo, the very same player that was swapped for Cristian Fabbiani. The future keeps looking dim for the millonarios.
One can say that the rain played a factor in the loss, especially with the goal by Lanus but aren’t excuses getting old? River needed a win. Not just for the team itself but for the fans. Week after week, fans have to endure pitiful results that only damage River’s reputation. It is the poor plays and strategy that affect the result, the players without any type of heart or determination to win, false hope in supposed idols of the club, and so forth. The reasons are endless and the only outcome from this is deception. Before the match started, I knew River did not have the strength to win but I had hope. I always have hope, but it’s getting hard to hold on to it. I even had faith in Cristian Fabbiani, and admitted in the forums of La Pagina Millonaria. Boy, was I wrong. I was let down by my favorite team in the world.
Ariel Ortega did the best he could, and the only reason why I bring him up is that he has huge responsibility on his shoulders. At his age, he shouldn’t be playing full matches but contributing when needed. Last night’s game with Lanus proved that he is long from taking a break on the pitch. He could have scored last night if it wasn’t for the referee not awarding a clear penalty to the ‘Burrito’. Refs have been charged in the past against penalty shots with River, but no matter what the punishment, it continues to happen. It wasn’t until the second half that Santiago Salcedo screamed his goal against his former club. It is a custom now that ex-players of River celebrate their goals in dramatic fashion, particularly with River. This gesture sealed River’s fate. River tried to score but it is impossible, especially with the type of players that the team possesses. Coach Nestor Gorosito was ridiculed by Lanus’s fans all night, and his eminent loss to Lanus made things worse. Looking down, all went inside the locker room and remained silent, while fans kept chanting support for club’s history.
The only thing to play for now is the local tournament, the Aperture. Even at this point, it seems impossible. River is in fourteenth place with four points, creating a difficult situation to qualify for next year’s Copa Santander Libertadores. My feelings are hurt, what else can I say, but I have faith that things will get better.
