BUENOS AIRES, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Buenos Aires team River Plate struggled Sunday to tie visiting team Union de Santa Fe 2-2, missing an opportunity to lead the Argentinean soccer league's Closing Tournament.
Santa Fe, which is practically among the second-division teams, was ahead by 2-0 at one point and even came close to a 3-1 score thanks to a penalty shot, but River goalie Marcelo Barovero managed to block the shot by Andres Franzoia.
In the second half of the game, coach Ramon Diaz's team gave it their all to tie, and finally managed to score a second goal at the 83rd minute, with a header from Uruguayan forward Rodrigo Mora.
Towards the end of the match, referee Diego Ceballos expelled "millionaire" defender Leandro Gonzalez Pirez for collecting second yellow card.
River's poor performance lost the team an important point, especially after Newell's tied Quilmes 1-1 Saturday.
On Sunday, Independiente won yet another game to hold on to its position among first-division teams, beating San Martin de San Juan 3-1 on its home turf. Had it lost against San Martin, it would have slipped into the next division.
On Saturday,Godoy Cruz de Mendozabeat Velez Sarsfield 3-1, Estudiantes de La Plata beat Atletico Rafaela 2-0 and Boca Juniors beat Colon de Santa Fe 1-0 to finally break a 12-game losing streak.
At the start of the weekend games Friday, Arsenal beat Racing Club 1-0.?