Club Atlético River Plate secured a second consecutive win under interim manager Leonardo Ponzio with a 3-1 victory over Independiente Rivadavia at the Monumental. Reported by Mundo Deportivo, the result lifts the team to ninth place in Group B of the Torneo Clausura, with 10 points from 8 matches.
How did the win against Independiente Rivadavia unfold?
The match started with a local advantage after a penalty converted by Gonzalo Montiel. According to La Nación's account, River displayed spells of good football in the second half, where Tomás Galván scored his first goal following a combination between Ángel Correa, Sebastián Driussi and Thiago Almada. The visiting team reacted with a headed goal from Alex Arce and came close to equalizing with a Luis Sequeira shot that hit the crossbar.
Individual quality surfaced again to seal the match. Galván completed his brace with a precise shot into the corner, setting the final 3-1 score. With this win, Ponzio's team maintains a positive run of three matches without defeat and closes in on the playoff qualification zone. Details of the remaining schedule can be found on our fixtures page.
What did the rival president say about the refereeing?
Daniel Vila, president of Independiente Rivadavia, strongly criticized referee Nicolás Ramírez's performance after the defeat. In statements reported by Olé, Vila called the official a "bandido" and stated: "I don't want him to referee us again." The executive linked his displeasure to a previous performance by the same referee in the 2025 Copa Argentina final.
Vila acknowledged the good play from both sides but insisted the referee "tilted the pitch." "It's very hard to turn a result around when you're playing against 12," he added. These comments add controversy to a match that, on the sporting side, left River with 10 goals scored and 9 conceded this season, according to verified data.
What is River's situation in the Clausura and the Annual Table?
The victory over the Annual Table leader is valuable for the team's aspirations. This is the second straight win since Ponzio took over, following the 3-2 against Banfield. In the Clausura standings, River occupies ninth place with 10 points, from 3 wins, 1 draw and 4 losses.
In the Annual Table, the team improves its position and nears the spots that grant qualification for international cups. Currently, the Millonario is 6 points behind the leader, Argentinos Juniors. The team's evolution and statistics can be followed in our standings and stats sections.
What's next for the team from Núñez?
The next challenge for Club Atlético River Plate will be a visit to Atlético Tucumán, scheduled for September 12. The opponent sits fourth in the table, promising a tough away fixture. The team will travel with the confidence of a recent run of 3 wins and 2 draws in their last five official matches.
