Finding Their Soul

by Juanchogol

River Plate looked dead and buried when Ahumada was sent off and Botafogo scored their second goal. There was nothing going on, as a matter of fact there was more action going on in the stands as they were chanting to see Daniel Passarella go along with club president José María Aguilar.

The score at this point was 2-1 and River needed three goals to move on and it seemed impossible. Botafogo were playing a man up in the last part of the second half and they seemed to put it on cruise control. They really thought that they were in the quarters and were getting ready to face either El Nacional or Defensor Sporting. They had the nerve to tap the ball around and waste some opportunities that would have put the stake through the heart of the River faithful and pretty much have Passarella on his way out.

But there is something that we can mention about Passarella- he always holds on to that cliff with his pinky and finds a way to swing up his free hand. Also look at the Radamel Falcao García hat-trick. His never say die attitude was part of what left the Millonarios in the Copa Sudamericana.

In the air and on the ground he was the reason why River is in. His first goal was an incredible header beating out a Botafogo defender in the air and in drawing the match level in the dying moments of the first half.

After the debacle, Falcao seemed to lift the team up by the straps and will them to victory. Still Botafogo was able to break through the River defensive backline and impose a huge threat on Juan Pablo Carrizo- still they just didn't seem to want to close the match out.

Falcao once again would make them pay with a Howitzer from about 25 yards out beating Max and injecting life into El Monumental. Still Botafogo would not wake up from this ecstasy. Botafogo were now playing to burn the clock out, while River came out to win at all costs. Ariel Ortega would drew them even closer as his cross- deflected at that- ended up being struck by Andrés Ríos who placed it in the back of the Glorioso net in the 73rd minute.

Game on The crowd was in it, and River was balls out. To see Carrizo run out on a 50-yard dribble up the pitch in order to not lose possession. He became an attacking option going up to head corners and "becoming" their creative midfielder on occasion. This effort will definitely relieve tensions between him and the fans and the team. He was one that absolutely justified becoming a starter over Juan Ojeda after his unceremonious return from Lazio.

There was a hunger that was not seen by any River team in years. Even Daniel Passarella was as animated as ever, and the remaining 30,000 willed this team to win. Their efforts bore fruit with time almost running out. Ortega sent a ball in the box and Falcao García appeared out of nowhere, beating four defenders and heading it perfectly into the corner of the Botafogo net.

Somehow the ghosts of the past four years were exhumed- for now. There was a sense of relief as well as a feeling similar to winning a title. For them it is still not the case, but it could be the catalyst that could turn their year around. Now that they are seven points behind Independiente, look at them to start focusing on the Sudamericana if they do not have success in this upcoming three domestic matches against Rosario Central, Argentinos Juniors, and in the Superclásico on October 7th.