The Oriental Sentinel
Match12 Aug 2026
The small margins put Oriental out
Out, 0‑3 to River Plate, and the long argument about which of the small moments decided it. The league is all there is now, and everybody knows it.
The terraces17 Aug 2026
Oriental are taken apart by River Plate — and the town wants answers
It finished 0-3. A cup exit is a disappointment; this was a public dismantling, and the difference between the two is the number of people who will still be talking about it in August.
Boardroom17 Aug 2026
Oriental agree a free transfer for Diego Blanco
Nothing happens for months and then he simply arrives, at no cost, having signed a pre-contract while still turning out for somebody else. It is the least dramatic way to sign a footballer and frequently the shrewdest.
Squad17 Aug 2026
Enzo Vlaeminch in a row with a teammate
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Oriental this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
The dugout17 Aug 2026
Gabriel Chocobar gets it from the manager
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
Boardroom17 Aug 2026
Nobody left the Oriental dressing room in a hurry
The door stayed shut a long time after the final whistle. What was said in there is between them; whether it worked is between them and Saturday.
The dugout17 Aug 2026
Jorge Cardozo answers for it
“The supporters are entitled to be angry. So am I. We will put it right.” 0‑3, a manager saying the necessary things, and a dressing room that heard a different version of them.
Player ratings17 Aug 2026
Maicol Gularte leaves them behind him
Shots: 9. Goals: none. The chances were there and they were good ones, and they went into the stand, the goalkeeper's arms and the side netting in roughly that order.
Player ratings17 Aug 2026
Martín Vallejo beats them one at a time
Successful dribbles: 12. There was always a defender in front of him and there was never a defender in front of him for long.
In brief
- Squad Ivan Da Silva makes his debut at 14
- The dugout Bruno Motta asks for a word with the manager
- The dugout Brian Lapaz does not fit this one