BUENOS AIRES (AP) – Goodbye striker. San Lorenzo played poorly and lost 1-0 in Rosario to Newell’s Old Boys on Monday, leaving River Plate sole leaders in the Argentine football league after beating Sarmiento 2-0 in Junin on Sunday.
The 8th date of the contest was played almost in its entirety, River is in the lead with 18 points, two more than the “Cyclone”. In the third stage, with 14 units, are Defensa y Justicia, Racing Club, Lanús, Newell’s and Rosario Central.
With Monday’s results, Boca Juniors – beaten 3-2 at “La Bombonera” on Sunday by Instituto de Córdoba – fell to 13th place. position (it could go down another notch) and is seven points off the top.
The “Marcelo Bielsa” stadium has become a fortress. Against San Lorenzo, the “Leprosy” added their fifth consecutive victory at home, with 508 minutes without conceding a goal in such conditions.
Gabriel Heinze’s team celebrated with a goal from Paraguayan Jorge “Pollo” Recalde, at minute 77.
The host was far superior in the first 25 minutes and created several dangerous situations.
Dissatisfied with his team’s performance, coach Rubén Darío Insúa quickly moved the bench: he brought in a striker to strengthen the midfield. Thus, he managed to balance the process, but paid a high price: he didn’t even complete the goal in the first stage.
Overall, the game appeared to be heading for a scoreless tie, as the site had deflated. But unexpectedly, a good assist from youngster Jeremías Pérez Tica was turned into a goal through Recalde’s nose.
San Lorenzo remembered attacking too late and saw how a five-game unbeaten streak was cut, giving way to ‘millionaire’ Martín Demichelis.
“We worked on the game for 90 minutes and we got a good result,” said Colombian defender Willer Ditta, one of the figures.
“The reading I did was not adequate,” admitted Insúa self-critically.
Lanús and Argentinos Juniors disappointed and equalized without goals.
The “Garnet”, which started the contest with four consecutive victories and now has four without a win, wasted the chance to reach goalkeeper San Lorenzo.
The “Bug” did something else to keep the three points, but he remains a prisoner of his irregularity: he added his second draw in a row and was temporarily relegated to 12th. position.
At the “Tomás Alfredo Ducó” stadium, Huracán lost 2-0 against a team from Rosario Central who had yet to win away.
First-half goals from Ignacio Malcorra and youngster Alejo Veliz sealed a well-deserved win and propelled Miguel Ángel Russo’s side to third place.
Huracán, who suffered their third defeat in a week, seemed touched by the Copa Libertadores preliminary phase elimination at the hands of Sporting Cristal in Lima.
The date will close on Tuesday with the clash between Vélez Sarsfield led by Ricardo Gareca and Central Córdoba of Santiago del Estero.