With all to be played for in the last game, River Plate and Boca Juniors had the chance of lifting the League trophy at the end of this Saturday. It was a special night, especially for Marcelo Gallardo, River Plate’s manager and legend, who won everything for the club but the Argentine league.

However, everything ended up with a cruel outcome for the team from the Monumental de Nunez, as in a match full of controversy, with goals ruled out, and penalties which weren’t awarded, River drew 1-1 with Tucuman away and with the Boca Juniors win at home over Gimnasia y Esgrima, Marcelo Gallardo’s team lost the Superliga title to their biggest rivals.

River Plate even scored the opener through Rafael Borre, but then, the referee ruled out his goal as according to the linesman, the Colombian striker was offside. In fact, it was a hard one, but as the Argentine Superliga doesn’t have the VAR, it kept rolling.

Then, River’s nightmare started to become true, as on 19 minutes, after a corner kick taken by Nicolas Aguirre, Javier Toledo climbed higher than Gonzalo Montiel on the far post and headed home past Franco Armani. 1-0 Atletico Tucuman.

The visitors responded through Matias Suarez in the 35th minute. Following a good move involving Nicolas De La Cruz, Milton Casco, and Suarez, the latter received a good cross and nodded home to level things up for River. 1-1.

Gallardo’s men looked inspired after the goal and had some chances to go half-time ahead. However, it didn’t happen that way.

At half-time, both River Plate and Boca Juniors were drawing their games. Consequently, the title was going to the Monumental de Nunez.

After the break, more controversy. In the 51st minute, Nacho Fernandez was brought down inside the area by Leonardo Heredia, but the referee, once again, didn’t give it.

On 71, Suarez missed a clear chance against Tucuman’s keeper, Lucchetti, as his effort went over the bar. And that goal will be regretted for a long time.

That’s because soon after, at La Bombonera, Carlos Tevez opened the scoring for Boca, who with the combination of results, was overcoming River Plate in the number of points and conquering the title of the 2019/2020 Superliga Argentina.

Gallardo activated the desperate mode and introduced strikers Nacho Scocco, and Lucas Pratto into the game. Scocco had his chance but also missed it.

In the last five minutes, River Plate went full attack and had wasted chances with Robert Rojas, Lucas Martinez Quarta, and Scocco. But unfortunately for them, and for the excellent manager, Marcelo Gallardo, it won’t be this season that they’re going to win the league.

It seems even unreal, as some matchdays ago, it was improbable that River would lose this title. Marcelo Gallardo’s men are having a hard time with decisive games, as the same happened in the Copa Libertadores final when they were one up until the 89th minute, and unexplainably conceded twice in three minutes and lost the final to Brazilian side Flamengo.

But it’s in these times that a squad can prove its own strength. River Plate needs to go again next season, get inspiration out of something, and bounce back. There’s also still a Copa Libertadores to be played. More finals will come for Gallardo and River Plate.