Racing lose a coach, Independiente gain a hero
Sunday 22 February 2009 12:00
It's in the big games where heroes and legends are born, and Saturday was Lucas Pusineri's day.
The 32 year old played the game of his life to help Independiente beat bitter rivals Racing 2-0, with the chants around the stadium echoing the elder leader's name: "Pusineri, Pusineri."
At the opposite end of the ground, the cries of of "Llop, Llop" could be heard but for very different reasons.
After the loss, Racing coach Juan Manuel Llop quit. Llop had previously been backed by the fans, as he was appointed while the club was going through a grave financial crisis that saw the company that owned them go bankrupt.
But after a meeting with the board, he decided to hand in his resignaton. However, Llop had earned a lot of respect and shouldn't be without work for long.
Montenegro celebrates scoring in derby
Playing in Huracan's stadium while Independiente's new home is being built, Pusineri headed the first after only three minutes and went on to punish a woeful Racing until the final whistle.
The second came after 65 minutes, with Gabriel Mercado tugging Ismael Sosa in the penalty area, allowing Independiente stalwart Daniel Montenegro to neatly slot the ball home.
The Avellaneda Derby, named after the neighbourhood they share, was typically dramatic, with a vast ticker tape entrance providing a red hot atmosphere for one of the most thrilling derbies in the world.
And this is what it feels like to be under one of the largest football flags ever made.
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