One of South America's most venerable soccer clubs is heading to the 2nd division for the first time in its history. That is, unless, they are able to pull off a win this Sunday by 2 or more goals. How did such a prestigious club, 33 times the AFA champion, and nicknamed "los millionarios" find themselves so close to complete humiliation? An awful season, a 2-0 nothing loss in the superclasico versus Boca Juniors, and a particularly horrendous finish.
A win here or there at the end of the season would've been enough to stave off relegation. Instead, River took the pitch last night against Belgrano in Cordoba, the top team of this season's second division, to kick off a 2 game playoff to determine if they will swap places. Final score? Belgrano 2, River Plate 0. At one particularly tragic or utterly comic moment during the second half, depending on your allegiance, River militantes broke through the perimeter and spilled onto the field. There, they taunted their fallen heroes and literally smacked them around. The game was suspended for over 20 minutes. After the game militantes amassed outside the team's hotel and hurled insults skyward, demanding to meet with players and management. The chaos will not die down today as River returns to Buenos Aires under police escort and socios will march on the Monumental demanding the team's president be sacked.
Can River save some face, defy the stacked odds, and win on the aggregate at home? Stay tuned.
No comments:
Post a Comment