Argentina's Independiente relegated for first time after loss to San Lorenzo
The Red Devils, who could not afford to drop another point, lost 1-0 at home to San Lorenzo and went down with one match to go in the "Final" championship.
Record seven times South American champions Independiente have become the second major Argentine team in two years to be relegated for the first time.
The Red Devils, who could not afford to drop another point, lost 1-0 at home to San Lorenzo and went down with one match to go in the "Final" championship.
With Union already relegated, the third spot for next season in the second-tier Primera B Nacional will go to the wire with Argentinos Juniors or San Martin the teams in danger.
"We could do no more. When you depend on others [for results] that's that," said rugged defender Cristian Tula after San Lorenzo's victory with a goal by striker Angel Correa.
Relegation in Argentina is determined by teams' average points over three seasons with the bottom three in that table going down. Like River Plate, Independiente were victims not so much of a poor 2012/13 campaign as mismanagement on and off the pitch over at least the past three seasons.
Independiente won the Libertadores Cup, the region's elite club tournament, seven times between 1964 and 1984.