Gimnasia join River Plate in second tier
Reuters - Thursday 30 June 2011, 20:38
BUENOS AIRES -
Gimnasia were relegated to Argentina's second tier Nacional
B division after a 1-1 draw at home to San Martin in La Plata
condemned them to the same fate as River Plate.
Record 33-time champions River were relegated on Sunday
after a similar 1-1 result in the second leg of their
relegation-promotion play-off put them out 3-1 on aggregate
against Belgrano and sparked riots inside and outside the
Monumental.
Gimnasia, who had lost the first leg in San Juan 1-0 on
Sunday, fell behind in the opening minute of the second leg to a
lobbed goal by winger Sebastian Penco.
The La Plata side, captained by veteran former Boca Juniors
and Columbus Crew striker Guillermo Barros Schelotto in his last
match before retiring, equalised through Jose Vizcarra 22
minutes from time.
Both sides finished with 10 men after Gimnasia's Milton
Casco was sent off in the 67th minute for a second booking and
Penco earned a second yellow card 10 minutes later.
Gimnasia, who had survived similar play-offs the two previous
seasons, were relegated for the first time in 30 years.
River, who had never been relegated before, boosted the
ranks of former champions in the Nacional B where Rosario
Central, Chacarita Juniors, Quilmes and Ferro Carril Oeste now
play.