River plays smart and wins in Junín The team managed by Martín Demichelis beat Sarmiento 2-0 thanks to goals by Lucas Beltrán and Agustín Palavecino. It now sits at the top of the Professional Football League table with 18 points.

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The match got off to a rocky and intense start: before the 5th minute, River set up a nice play from right to left, Enzo Díaz tapped the ball to Rodrigo Aliendro, who struck a shot facing the goal, causing Manuel García to commit a handball. Lucas Beltrán took the penalty kick and skillfully set the score at 1-0. On a quick play, Sarmiento could have scored the equalizer in a one-on-one with the keeper, but Javier Toledo's shot went high.

The home team had another chance, when Toledo struck a long-range shot on goal, but Franco Armani made an effortless save on it. River responded with a great shot from José Paradela, which went just wide of Sebastián Meza's right goalpost, and a right-footed shot from Beltrán, which was saved by the home keeper.

Armani made two incredible saves in the span of one minute: first, he blocked a dangerous shot from David Gallardo; then, he made a flying save on a crossed right-footed shot from Luciano Gondou. On another clear chance for River, Beltrán struck a powerful shot, following a feint in the box, but Meza managed to deflect it. River had one more chance in the first half, thanks to great collective play and a shot from Paradela.

The second half started off tight: the home team was using two forwards, but River was smart to control the game and keep the defense in order. River had a few chances to score, but the clearest one was a tremendous right-footed shot from Aliendro, which was saved by Meza; off the corner kick, Agustín Palavecino won the header but his shot was off-target.

Salomón Rondón came onto the field to play the last 20 minutes. On one of the first chances he got, he almost set the score at 2-0, but his crossed shot lacked accuracy. Finally, Palavecino scored the second goal sending an exquisite right-footed shot into Meza’s right goalpost. With this win, the team managed by Demichelis now sits with 18 points and waits for San Lorenzo, the team leading the tournament, to play.