River Plate are enduring one of their biggest crises in team history and the light that was at the end of the tunnel seemed to be a train coming full speed. After bringing a huge contingency to Asunción as the Millonarios were poised to qualify for the knockout stage of the Copa Libertadores.

The had the perfect opponent in the perfect group to accomplish the mission. But when they stepped onto the pitch at the Defensores del Chaco, they did not know that the mountain they had to climb was steeper than they thought.

“I feel embarrassed and impotent,” said coach Nestor Gorosito after the match. They now become part of the category of the big disapointments alongside reigning champs LDUQ. “A National Embarrassment: River Were Humiliated By An Eliminated Team”. That was the title of this morning’s edition of Olé. The team did not come home to the adulation of fans that usually come to greet them at Ministro Pistarini International Airport.

No, the environment was quite the opposite. It was the blame game on steroids. The club brass pointed at the players. The players pointed at their teammates. Nestor Gorosito took the blame. For many this was unexpected at a club that seemed to be heading on a downward spiral. Being eliminated in this tournament is arguably worse than coming in last place this past Apertura tournament. Who’s to blame? Many. The problem here is not who should be crucified or

To add insult to injury, players of River glories past were scheduled to get together and play at the Monumental as the club planned to celebrate individuals like Enzo Francescoli, Beto Alonso, among others were ready to give a great show; but the club decided to cancel the entire event. How much lower can it go?