Eleven players in light blue and black uniforms pose on the field before a match, with a packed stadium in the background. — Belgrano made history by sending River to relegation | La Derecha Diario

Camara — Belgrano made history by sending River to relegation | La Derecha Diario

It has been 14 years since the day Belgrano relegated River.

June 26, 2011, went down in the history of the Córdoba team for being promoted to the First Division, sending Millonarios to the Second Division

26/06/2025 12:58:00h

Editorial Team

Feat. Upset. Surprise. Blow... pirate.

This is how the media described the match in whichBelgrano relegated River on June 26, 2011.

Soccer player in a white uniform with a red stripe covering his face with his hands while opposing players celebrate in the background

Belgrano made history by sending River to relegation | La Derecha Diario

The Córdoba team, coached by Ricardo Zielinski, who is currently their manager, defeated the Millonario 2-0 at home and in the second leg secured a 1-1 draw at the Monumental.

That result allowed them to be promoted to Primera División and achieve something historic: making River play a season in the B Nacional.

Fourteen years have passed, but for Belgrano fans, it feels as if it happened yesterday.

Players from a soccer team wearing light blue jerseys celebrate a goal while a goalkeeper in a black uniform watches the scene.

Belgrano made history by sending River to relegation | La Derecha Diario

"Because history is written by a TEAM... 18 warriors willing to do anything!", wrote goalkeeper Juan Carlos Olave, a key player in the promotion, as he saved a penalty at the Monumental.

In addition to Olave, that squad included Ribair Rodríguez, Luciano Lollo, Guillermo Farré, who scored an unforgettable goal, "Mudo" Vázquez, Juan Carlos Maldonado, Gastón Turus, César Manzanelli, "Chiqui" Pérez, César Pereyra, among others.

The draw that condemned River to relegation and was celebrated by Belgrano

That afternoon in a packed Estadio Alberto Vespucio Liberti, the Núñez team seemed to quickly turn the story in their favor, giving hope to more than 70,000 souls who suffered like never before in the stands.

When only six minutes of play had passed, Mariano Pavone excelled with a great strike from outside the box so that the team coached by Juan José López was just one goal away from staying up.

Soccer player in a light blue uniform celebrating a goal while an opposing player is on the ground and the crowd watches from the stands.

Belgrano made history by sending River to relegation | La Derecha Diario

In the second half, tempers began to flare because the second and necessary goal did not come. To make matters worse, at the 60th minute Guillermo Farré took advantage of a glaring defensive error and made it 1-1.

At the 69th minute of the second half, River had a golden opportunity to regain the lead on the scoreboard and recover a glimmer of hope to avoid football catastrophe.

Referee Sergio Pezzotta awarded a penalty to the Millonario and Pavone, who had scored the first, took responsibility for the kick.

The shot was mishit, down the middle, and goalkeeper Juan Carlos Olave saved it to the delight of all Belgrano, who still remember him as a hero and idolize him.

Incidents at River's stadium after relegation against Belgrano

With just a handful of minutes left before the end of the match, and with River needing to score two goals to stay in Primera, something that seemed utopian given the context, some Millonario fans at the Monumental forced the game to be suspended after causing deplorable incidents, throwing all kinds of objects onto the field and even setting part of the stands on fire.

Belgrano fans had to stay for several hours while everything calmed down, as the unrest continued in the surrounding areas.

It was a historic date, unforgettable for Belgrano fans and for all of Córdoba, who celebrated it with madness.

➡️ Argentina