The VAR stole the leading role from Lanús-River: because they canceled the 1-1 goal against Garnet

Another Lanús-River in the Fortress and with the stellar participation of the VAR. As in that remembered day of the Copa Libertadores of October 31, 2017, when Garnet eliminated the team led by Marcelo Gallardo with more than controversial plays. And last night it was the local who suffered it with technology because they canceled a goal that seemed legal. The feeling is that they were looking for an ant and not an elephant…

Cristian Lema headed Matías Esquivel’s fine cross to beat Franco Armani. It was the equalizer; It’s been 15 minutes. Nobody complained because everything seemed in order. But it took a while to get to River at the request of referee Darío Herrera, who was fingering his earpiece. Leandro Rey Hilfer, in charge of VAR, and Pablo González, as AVAR, were reviewing something. Speculations began about an alleged foul by Lema and it was even thought that the ball had gone out in Esquivel’s throw.

What happened? José Canale was one centimeter ahead and close to Armani’s field of vision. The presence of the Paraguayan defender also impeded González Pirez’s movement. And that’s what the participants thought they saw. The feeling that remained was that Canale did not have an active participation in the goal. It was, of course, a performance move and that’s why Herrera went to watch her on screen. They convinced him after more than 5 minutes and the madness of all Lanús broke out.

“I think if they went to see the VAR, they were early. In the first match they annoyed González Pirez,” said Franco Armani, the figure of the night.

Frank Kudelka was expelled for insulting anyone who crossed his path; Lautaro Acosta invited Enzo Pérez to fight and exchanged insults with coach Martín Demichelis. Tempers were heated. In the last, Lanús had another goal disallowed for offside by Troyansky. It was clear. The highly controversial was the first.

And the people of Lanús exploded when Herrera marked the end. Several shells fell from the crowd and one hit Enzo Díaz, who lay on the substitutes’ bench for a couple of minutes. Nor was it easy for referee Herrera to leave: several private security personnel had to contain the grenade fans. What’s more: the police had to build a roof with shields for him to retire to the locker room.