River visit this Monday to Institutefrom Córdoba, for the fourteenth date of Zone A of the League Cup, in which the teams that qualify for the quarterfinals of the competition are defined.
The match is played in the Córdoba stadium, where River has never won, with Silvio Trucco as main judge and with José Carreras in the VAR. River depends on himself, since he needs to win or equal (depending on other results) to secure his place among the top four in the area and continue in the competition. However, he had a hard time throughout the first chapter.
First, at 21 minutes, Damian Puebla (impossible to score for almost the entire millionaire defense), he almost nailed the ball in an angle and Glory was centimeters away from going ahead on the scoreboard. After a while, the discussed action arrived. Rodrigo Villagra (the foul is doubtful and, furthermore, it is on the edge of the area) knocked down Facundo Suárez, but referee Trucco, who was close to the action, did not hesitate. There was no call from the VAR for him to go and observe, so it was understood that he agreed with the sanction. Puebla, with class, opened the scoring.
This situation generated a stir in the millionaire cast, which lost its axis. He was able to tie it, yes, with a shot from Colidio, which he received under the goal, but incredibly his shot went over the crossbar. With a series of results, which include Vélez’s 1-0 victory over Independiente Rivadavia, River is eliminated from the final stage.
At the end of the first half of Independiente and Talleres, there was also controversy. After the VAR review for a handball by Miguel Navarro after a shot by David Martínez, it was considered a penalty. Alexis Canelo hit him with soul and life and Rojo won 2 to 0 (and qualified).
In addition, the Córdoba team was left without the defender, because he received a double warning. All Talleres complained about the action, which at first was not so clear. Independiente, throughout the entire tournament, was energetic with several dubious rulings. This time, the balance tipped in his favor.
On Super Monday, River reacted with three screams of Colidio, which recomposed itself through the pure magic of an erratic first half and gave victory to the millionaire cast. An extraordinary merit: he scored three goals in 16 minutes. The first two, head first. The last one, a barbaric left foot, that collided with the post and went in, with class. It was the first time that River achieved a victory on the Instituto field.
In Avellaneda, however, the excitement turned into frustration, because the T tied: 2-2 and with one less player. In the end, Red was left out. River came first, Argentinos, second, Barracas Central, third, and Vélez, fourth. The team led by Carlos Tevez was left with the greatest frustration, above all, because they had everything to win. And continue in the race.