Four Months Removed From The Brink Of Death, Buonanotte Saves River

There are certain nights when as a sports fan you are just thankful to witness brilliance, and when you witness it in person, it is something you can forever say “I was there.” Tonight I was lucky enough to be in El Monumental to see River Plate top Velez Sarsfield 2-1 in a game that means almost nothing in terms of championship standings.

Why then will I remember this game, especially when Velez played a team largely of substitutes with their concentration mainly on the Copa Libertadores?

            The true importance of the occasion, and emotional response that ensued from the River faithful, was the game winning goal scored by Diego Buonanotte.

            Four months ago, it was unknown if El Enano would live much less walk or play football after suffering a horrific car accident that cost three of his best friends their lives. As if the physical ailments were not bad enough, Diego has gone through expansive theoropy to help over come the losses of his childhood friends. 

Remarkably after perservering, he returned to football two weeks ago as an impact sub that helped inspired River to a 2-1 victory in Angel Cappa’s debut as coach, simply saying it was nice to think about nice things like football again.

            Then tonight, the Olympic Gold Medalist from 2008, brought out his best, thumping home Cristian Villagra’s cross nine minutes from time.

            In addition to Bounanotte’s sentimental winner, the game featured a number of emotional side stories that made the victory special for River’s players, coaches, and fans alike.

            Star forward Ariel Ortega who has been involved with a long fight with alcoholism, suffered a car accident early Monday morning before being informed that after seven years he had been called back to the Argentine National Team by coach Diego Maradona.

            The original “next Maradona” (a title later held by the likes of Carlos Tevez, Pablo Aimar, Lionel Messi, amongst others), Ortega has played 86 times for Argentina and played in three World Cups, including USA 1994 when he replaced the suspended Maradona.

            As usual, Ortega received the most applause (at least until Buonananotte came on) and was the conductor of River’s attack releasing Villagra with a back heel  before the full back struck the post and later a chipped pass to Mauro Diaz whose meek header was easy for Montoya. Finally just before half time, River got the break through with Ortega applying a sensational pass over the top for Paulo Ferrari to control the ball calmly and slot past German Montoya with his left foot.

            The victory also had a special meaning for manager Angel Cappa, whose Huracan side had been robbed of the title in 2009 due to a dreadful refereeing error. In his first match against the team from Liniers, who had been gifted an early lead despite River controlling all of the possession and creating numerous chances, Cappa played to his ideals by with drawing striker Rogelio Funes Mori in favor of Buonanotte just after the hour mark.

            With out a penalty area reference on the pitch, River displayed Cappa’s “tiki-tiki” (short crisp passing and movement) at its best before El Enano scored the dramatic winner.

Ortega and Buonanotte, two players who have gone through so much since winning the 2008 Clausura together, were once again at the heart of a River victory, this time against all of the odds.

            For one night at least, River, who sit near the bottom of the table in addition to the off field problems that have plagued the club over the last year or so, have many things to be happy about, thanks mainly to Buonanotte. 

One can only salivate at the type of football River will play with a fully healthy Buonanotte and the many reinforcements Cappa and President Daniel Passarella will bring in after the World Cup.