0-0: River missed all the penalties and were left without a final

Enzo Díaz kicks, Jorge Broun puts his right foot in, the ball rises and hits the crossbar… Agustín Palavecino shoots in the middle of the goal, the goalkeeper stays put and saves it… Poor Martínez who shoots on the side, the goalkeeper guessed again and celebrated his third block… Manuel Lanzini went and missed the goal: he sent the fourth shot into the sky… river, unusual: four penalties taken, four penalties missed. Farewell to League Cup in the semi-finals. The whole party is Central Rosary.

So, at the Mario Kempes stadium in Córdoba, two issues were adopted. On the one hand, the equality in the head-to-head series of the League Cup: except for one match (which was resolved in the last minute), all quarterfinal and semi-final duels were decided by penalties. On the other hand, something that has been repeated for River is a bad habit in these dramatic series: throughout its rich history, the millionaires have won only 40% of the penalty shootouts in which they have participated.

The River began on Saturday with the celebration of December 9, an iconic date in its history. Because five years ago, on 12-9-2018, he achieved the greatest success in his history: he won the Libertadores final against Boca in Madrid.

The millionaires hope to end such a special date by qualifying for another final. The semifinal against Rosario Central started at 10 pm on Saturday in Argentina and ended in the early hours of Sunday morning, with a less than desirable epilogue. Everything because of the punishments that for River became karma. In this way he said goodbye to the Libertadores, the highest goal. On that occasion he left the League Cup.

Perhaps influenced by the heavy defeat against the same Rosario Central three games ago, Martín Demichelis kicked the board in the initial formation. Surprised. He left the River of midfielders aside. He left the 4-5-1 for a 4-3-3. Inside Sebastián Boselli (first time starter), Ramiro Funes Mori, Pablo Solari and Facundo Colidio. Out Milton Casco (injured), Leandro González Pirez, Nacho Fernández and Manuel Lanzini.

With Boselli as the right side marker, supported by Paulo Díaz as the first center back, River nullified Central’s main offensive weapon: Jaminton Campaz. The Colombian experienced it a few weeks ago in Rosario. This time he hardly suffered from it.

There was a superior River in the first half, more direct and with less possession, with the smart and sharp dynamics of Nicolás De la Cruz, well supported by Esequiel Barco and the good setbacks of Colidio. So millionaires rule the game and, even if they don’t create so many dangerous situations, they deserve more. De la Cruz from outside asked Broun. Barco’s free kick hit the crossbar. Rondón and Solari were shot from above.

Central corrected the scores and ordered the second half. It’s harder for River to come to terms and get along. Everything is balanced. Demichelis sent Lanzini and Claudio Echeverri onto the field, the precocious sensation who rose to fame at the recent Under 17 World Cup. Then, the coach bet on Pity Martínez and Palavecino. But the people of Rosario are strong. And the fate of sanctions is inevitable. Franco Armani, known for his ineffectiveness in defining the series, this time one stopped. However, all his companions failed.

So the River was left without an end. That much-anticipated matchup will feature unexpected finalists: Miguel Russo’s Rosario Central will be looking for the title on Saturday, December 16 against Martín Palermo’s surprising Platense. It is in Santiago del Estero. Right there, on December 22, the Champions Trophy will be played, between the winner of this League Cup and the League champion, River. Millionaires, then, have another chance to close 2023 with a smile. We have to see how they lead to that moment after this blow.