River Plate lose to Union Santa Fe

Buenos Aires, Jan 24 (IANS) River Plate's lacklustre domestic form continued with a 1-2 home loss to Union Santa Fe in the Superliga Argentina football meet.The visitors on Wednesday went ahead in the 37th minute at the Monumental courtesy of a Franco Fragapane penalty after Franco Troyansky was brought down by Kevin Sibille, reports Xinhua news agency.Diego Zabala doubled Union Santa Fe's lead in the 73rd minute by rifling in a first-time shot after Nelson Acevedo's clever run and slide rule pass from the left.Colombia international playmaker Juan Fernando Quintero gave the hosts a flicker of hope with a long range effort that deflected in off substitute Jonathan Bottinelli.But Union Santa Fe held on to clinch their sixth win of the season and rise to 10th in the 26-team standings, 14 points behind leaders Racing Club.River, who won the Copa Libertadores last month, slid to 12th with just 19 points from 13 matches.
--IANS gau/bg