In just over a minute, Nacho Fernández provided a glimpse into the concerns plaguing River Plate following their tough 1-2 defeat against Godoy Cruz in Mendoza. The midfielder, who came on as a substitute at the start of the second half for Rodrigo Aliendro, attempted to stabilize the situation, but unfortunately, the team couldn’t turn the match around. River has won only two of their last seven matches, leaving them fifth in the Liga Profesional standings with ten points, trailing five points behind the leaders, Huracán.
The discontent among fans was palpable in the stands of the Mundialista stadium. Godoy Cruz, having secured their first victory in the tournament, allowed neutral fans, many of whom supported the visitors. The River Plate supporters voiced their frustration with the chant, “Let’s see if you show some heart; you’re not playing against anyone,” a common sentiment expressed by fans during tough times.
Fernández acknowledged the difficulties, stating, “It’s hard to find explanations; we just need to work and correct our mistakes. We took the lead, but we can’t keep the result. They scored two almost identical goals against us. We must work hard and face these challenges because significant matches are coming.”
River initially took the lead in the tenth minute with a goal from Miguel Borja, who has been in exceptional form, scoring the last eight goals for the team. This reliance on Borja underscores a concerning trend for the squad. The victory for Godoy Cruz came from two goals scored by Poggi, both following crosses from the right side. The scoreline could have been worse if not for Franco Armani’s efforts, despite his blunder during the second goal.
Looking ahead, Fernández noted the importance of the upcoming home match, saying, “There isn’t much time until Sunday. We have a home game that we must win. We need to significantly improve for the big goal we all share.” This refers to the Copa Libertadores, where River will face Talleres de Córdoba in the Round of 16.
In contrast, Godoy Cruz celebrated their victory as a massive relief. Vicente Poggi, who scored both goals, expressed his joy, saying, “It’s incredible; this is the first time I’ve scored two goals. They were similar, and very close together. I’m happy because it was well earned; I’ve been working hard to get into the area.” He concluded, stating that this victory meant a lot to their squad and would give them a significant emotional boost.
On Sunday, in a Monumental stadium eager for a return to winning ways, River Plate will host Sarmiento de Junín, who recently achieved a 1-0 victory over Racing on their home turf.
Image and News Source: https://www.infobae.com/deportes/2024/07/25/la-autocritica-de-nacho-fernandez-tras-la-derrota-de-river-ante-godoy-cruz-es-dificil-encontrar-explicaciones/
