Oscar López Turitich has died: the former Platense defender who saved a penalty against Boca, was champion with River and suffered his last years

Died Oscar López Turiticha peak indicator of Platense AND River symbol of the 80s. The news came out in the last few hours and was confirmed by Vicente López’s club, which dedicated a post to him on his social networks.

With the Calamaro shirt, López Turitich was the protagonist of a historic match of Argentine football, in the 4th round of the 1984 Metropolitano. He saved a penalty from the Uruguayan Fernando Morena, from Boca. In that match goalkeeper Puentedura was sent off and showed his face. “I asked to go to goal. Then I saw that Morena was leaning to one side, and she threw it to my right and I stopped it. The match ended 2-2. And I was delighted” López Turitich said. clarion three years ago, when in full pandemic he described the difficult situation he was going through.

Diabetes hit him hard and at that time his leg had to be amputated. He was looking for a job or some opportunity to help his family. As it became known, his health has recently deteriorated and his other leg also had to be amputated.

In addition to the penalty anecdote, López Turitich achieved sporting glory as part of the River squad that won its first Copa Libertadores, in 1986.

The former footballer was part of a WhatsApp group of former Millionaire players, including Negro Héctor Enrique, Nery Pumpido, Oscar Ruggeri, the Spider Luis Amuchástegui and Pedro Troglio, among others. There the sad news was announced, communicated by one of the relatives of the former scorer.

The Uruguayan Antonio Alzamendi dedicated a message to him on Twitter. “Our dear López Turitich has left us,” wrote the remembered scorer, together with a photo in which Oscar appears, on his crutches, in a tribute by River to the ’86 champions.

In his conversation with Clarín, López Turitich recounted how hard the amputation of his right leg was, due to gangrene. “I wanted to die, I didn’t want to go on living. But my friends kept asking me to move forward for my family. The most exciting thing was getting the messages from River players, which helped me to leave behind the great depression I was having.”

After football he was a bus driver and a taxi driver, activities he could no longer do without his leg.

“I’ve been looking for it, but now with one leg down no one gives me work. And that makes me sick,” he complained.

His sports career began in Platense, where he played from 1979 to 1984. He was the springboard to play for the champion River in 85/86. From there he moved to Huracán, who were trying to return to the First Division, until 1989. And after that he passed through Cipolletti de Río Negro, Colegiales, El Porvenir and Gimnasia y Tiro de Salta.

He points out that his former River teammates never abandoned him and Pedro Troglio also sent him money from Peru. “This helps me to continue living with my son here in San Martín. It’s very sad for someone who was once a player to have a leg missing. You feel helpless because you can’t work and I admit I’m a cripple. But I know that with the help of my friends I will go ahead and get a new crutch. And I hope PAMI can help me because she supports the Argentines a lot,” she told Clarín.

His happiest moment in football was when they told him he was going to play for River. I was doing the preseason with Platense and the president del Marrón arrived at the concentration to tell him that his pass had been made. “I swear I pinched myself because I couldn’t believe it,” he told Clarin.

But he acknowledged that his best memory was when he saved Morena’s famous penalty. Because the game was lost: two goals behind against Boca and with the goalkeeper sent off. His penalty save is fundamental. “We at Platense prepared with Boca as if it were a classic. And you don’t know how we celebrated that draw, as if we had come out as champions. That’s why I also celebrated the double victory over Boca with the River shirt.” said the Oscar with his characteristic smile.