To be honest I could copy and paste a review of any of River’s Libertadores performances this season – except for the first one – in here and it would be just as accurate. It was attack, attack, attack against LDU Quito at the Monumental late on Thursday night / early on Friday morning, and yet again, the finishing edge was lacking, the final penetrating pass missing, and it was to no avail. The match finished 0-0.
Daniel Passarella will now appear in the press tomorrow promising a ‘more attacking’ River side for their next match (probably – he has done after seemingly all their matches this season). But really, if they push forward any more the strikers are going to be joining the fans in the stand behind the goal. Something is lacking at River, and it’s up to Passarella to work out what. They’re by no means out of the Copa now, but they’re going to need two good performances in their remaining games.
Leaders Caracas (six points from three games) play Colo Colo (three points from three games) away tomorrow, with River and LDU both on five points from four games. LDU are second by virtue of goal difference.
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Ugh, you are so right. It was almost exactly like the Caracas game, only without the killer counterattack goal against. But the comical Farias miss, and all the free headers from set plays that failed to find the target, were a painful flashback. I thought Rosales at least looked a little bit dangerous at times. Belluschi is simply lost.
If Colo Colo beat Caracas tomorrow, I believe that means River will be bottom of the group on goal difference, with only two games left? Colo Colo and Caracas will each have 6 points, River and LDU 5. This is not a situation I could have imagined after winning in Santiago.
You said, “It was attack, attack, attack against LDU Quito at the Monumental late on Thursday night / early on Friday morning, and yet again, the finishing edge was lacking …”
and I know just what you mean. It was a very jarring match to watch, if that makes any sense: all those attacks SHOULD have worked, but something always seemed to be one step out of sync. It was kind of like the clockwork moved smoothly until little, unexpected, and inexplicable malfunctions occurred. Unpredictable hitches that didn’t make sense in the context of the play – if you know what I mean.