Uninspired Newell's Give Racing 1-0 Victory

There's not much I can say about Newell's 1-0 loss to Racing Club today... but I'll try. After having watched Chelsea down Aston Villa 7-1, this match was so disappointing on so many levels. Really, it's the same story that has plagued La Lepra through out the Clausura... they aren't creating enough quality chances, and what chances they are getting are being squandered.

In the first half Mauricio Sperdutti forced a fingertip save out of Racing keeper Jorge Alberto De Olivera for a corner. Later in the first half Mauro Fórmica put a shot wide, then early in the second half Joaquín Boghossian put a volley wide. And that was the extent of the offense from Newell's.

The game seemed destined to a 0-0 finish before Lucas Castromán came on as a second half sub for Racing's Sebastián Rosano. The minute the crafty veteran came onto the pitch I knew the game was about to change, and it didn't take long at all. Two minutes after entering, it was Castromán's pass that set up a shot that Sebastián Peratta stopped, but only for Matías Martínez to pounce on the rebound and easily convert for the lone goal of the match. No blame here, Peratta had an other wise brilliant game.

As well as Peratta played, I have to give the man of the match honors to Newell's captain Rolando Schiavi. If not for El Flaco's play in defense, the score may well have been far worst than it was, stopping a number of offensive forays Racing had through out the match. The only down side of Schiavi's performance is that he received his fifth yellow card of the season in the 89th minute, which means he'll have to sit out Newell's next match, at home against Tigre.