Maradona's club suffer 2-1 defeat on new coaching debut
Soccer Football - Superliga - Gimnasia y Esgrima v Racing Club - Juan Carmelo Zedillo Stadium, La Plata, Argentina - September 15, 2019 Gimnasia y Esgrima coach Diego Maradona reacts during the match REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian
LA PLATA, Argentina (Reuters) - The Diego Maradona era as coach of Argentine side Gimnasia y Esgrima began with a loss on Sunday as defensive errors contributed to the club’s 2-1 league defeat at home to Racing.
Maradona, who took over at the ailing club last week, was an animated presence on the home touchline in La Plata, near Buenos Aires.
However, a goalkeeping error allowed Racing to take the lead 36 minutes into the match and although Matias Garcia equalised for Gimnasia six minutes into the second half they went behind again two minutes later after hesitant defending let Federico Zaracho grab a winner.
Soccer Football - Superliga - Gimnasia y Esgrima v Racing Club - Juan Carmelo Zedillo Stadium, La Plata, Argentina - September 15, 2019 Racing Club's Diego Gonzalez celebrates scoring their first goal with Lisandro Lopez REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian
"I thought the team played well, the lads were great, but we need to keep working," said Maradona, who is coaching in his homeland for the first time since he led the national team in 2010. "We’re not finished yet."
The result was Gimnasia’s fifth defeat in their first six league games and leaves the club rooted to the bottom of the 24-team table with one point.
Soccer Football - Superliga - Gimnasia y Esgrima v Racing Club - Juan Carmelo Zedillo Stadium, La Plata, Argentina - September 15, 2019 Gimnasia y Esgrima coach Diego Maradona and staff celebrate their first goal scored by Ariel Garcia REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian
(Reporting by Ramiro Scandolo, writing by Andrew Downie; editing by Clare Fallon)
Soccer Football - Superliga - Gimnasia y Esgrima v Racing Club - Juan Carmelo Zedillo Stadium, La Plata, Argentina - September 15, 2019 Gimnasia y Esgrima coach Diego Maradona reacts during the match REUTERS/Agustin MarcarianSoccer Football - Superliga - Gimnasia y Esgrima v Racing Club - Juan Carmelo Zedillo Stadium, La Plata, Argentina - September 15, 2019 Gimnasia y Esgrima's Pablo Velazquez in action with Racing Club's Nery Dominguez REUTERS/Agustin MarcarianSoccer Football - Superliga - Gimnasia y Esgrima v Racing Club - Juan Carmelo Zedillo Stadium, La Plata, Argentina - September 15, 2019 Gimnasia y Esgrima fans during the match REUTERS/Agustin MarcarianSoccer Football - Superliga - Gimnasia y Esgrima v Racing Club - Juan Carmelo Zedillo Stadium, La Plata, Argentina - September 15, 2019 Gimnasia y Esgrima players and coach Diego Maradona pose for a team group photo before the match REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian
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