Manuel Lanzini scored an early goal to give River Plate the lead at Rosario Central, but Carlos Luna equalized for the host with a header almost on the half hour.
ROSARIO — River Plate failed to keep its early advantage and drew 1-1 with Rosario Central in its visit to the Gigante de Arroyito stadium yesterday in a match for the second round of the Final Tournament.
Talented midfielder Manuel Lanzini finished off a brilliant attack involving Colombia’s Teófilo Gutié-rrez and striker Fernando Cavenaghi to put the visitors ahead in the fourth minute of play. However, former River forward Carlos Luna hit back with a header almost on the half hour.
This result leaves Estudiantes de La Plata as the only team on maximum points in the championship. The coached by Mauricio Pellegrino, which won 1-0 at All Boys on Saturday, has six points from two matches with River, Vélez Sarsfield, Olimpo, Atlético Rafaela and Central all on four.
Yesterday, River went ahead almost at the beginning of the match. The opportunity started with a corner for Central, but the visitors recovered the ball and counter attacked with Lanzini carrying it. The midfielder passed it to Gutiérrez, who made a wall pass with Cavenaghi and then left behind two defenders to return the ball to Lanzini, who unmarked sent it home.
The host was shocked by the early goal and tried to equalize quickly. Miguel Ángel Russo’s team finally found the goal in the 29th minute, when Jesús Méndez crossed the ball and Luna took advantage of a distracted River defence to score with a header.
Neither side did much in the second half to get the victory. Central finished the match with ten players as Paulo Ferrari was sent off in the 81st minute.
It was a fair result that kept the visitors unbeaten, while Central won an important point to stay far away from the relegation zone.
Díaz’s team was: Marcelo Barovero; Gabriel Mercado, Germán Pezzella, Éder Álvarez Balanta; Carlos Carbonero, Leonardo Ponzio, Matías Kranevitter, Leonel Vangioni; Lanzini; Teófilo Gutiérrez and Cavenaghi.
Central played with: Mauricio Caranta; Ferrari, Lisandro Magallán, Alejandro Donatti, Rafael Delgado; Hernán Encina, Nery Domínguez, Jesús Méndez, Federico Carrizo; Luna and Gonzalo Castillejos.
River arch rival Boca Juniors was playing last night at press time against Belgrano at an empty La Bombonera stadium. No supporters were allowed as the stadium had a one-match ban.
Herald with agencies