Scoring three and cruising into the Copa Libertadores quarter finals, River Plate looked to be over their recent scoring troubles and while Juan Fernando Quintero netted Los Millonarios’ first Superliga goal of the season it wasn’t enough to prevent a fourth consecutive draw against fellow winless grande San Lorenzo.
Both sides remain unbeaten and while Marcelo Gallardo will be frustrated to not have broken River’s run of draws, San Lorenzo will equally feel that they did enough for three points.
During an opening 45 minutes that River shaded both sides had chances. Franco Armani and opposite number Nicolás Navarro were called into action and while Rafael Santos Borré had a goal correctly ruled out it was San Lorenzo who had a genuine reason to question the officials after Enzo Pérez appeared to block a Franco Moyano shot with his arm.
However, the breakthrough came just before the break and as has so often been the case in recent months, Juan Fernando Quintero was the difference. The Colombian picked up the ball close to halfway but as San Lorenzo stood off, Quintero was able to cut inside onto his left foot and casually find the bottom corner.
River finally scoring gave Gallardo’s side a great opportunity for victory given Franco Armani’s record of not conceding.
Perhaps tired from their Copa Libertadores exploits though San Lorenzo increased the pressure after half time and fifteen minutes from time found an equaliser. Nicolás Blandi poorly marked heading past Armani at a corner to bring to an end the goalkeeper’s 965-minute run without conceding in the Superliga.
Nicolás Reneiro was sent off for the home side for a second yellow card as neither side could find a winner.
San Lorenzo 1 – 1 River Plate
Talleres followed up their first win of the season last week with victory over previously undefeated Godoy Cruz in Córdoba.
The post and a goalline clearance by Carlos Quintana denied Santiago García and Gonzalo Maroni from giving the visitors the lead but Talleres were a threat throughout and ultimately won it eight minutes from time.
Maroni’s cutback from the left found Junior Arias unmarked and the forward’s finish left Roberto Ramirez rooted to the spot.
Talleres 1 – 0 Godoy Cruz
In Florencio Varela, relegation threatened Belgrano left with a valuable points after holding Defensa y Justicia to a 1-1 draw.
A long ball upfield after only five minutes appeared to catch the home side defence napping and Juan Brunetta clipped the ball past Ezequiel Unsain to open the scoring.
Both sides continued to have chances and while Belgrano goalkeeper César Rigamonti was equal to everything thrown at him, the 31-year-old will not want to see Matías Rojas’ equaliser again. The Paraguayan’s shot from outside the penalty box came through a crowd but was straight at Rigamonti only to slip through his grasp into the net.
Three draws from four games and still unbeaten, the two sides have identical records and for now that is enough to see Belgrano just above the relegation zone.
Defensa y Justicia 1 – 1 Belgrano
And finally, Banfield piled more relegation concern on Patronato with a 1-0 win in the Estadio Florencio Sola.
The only goal came after half an hour when a counter attack from a Patronato corner ended in Enzo Kalinski heading the ball past Sebastián Bértoli.
With one point and still yet to score a goal, Patronato’s hopes of survival look slim.
golazo argentino 