River Plate are the new Copa Libertadores champions. A thrilling encounter that had everything one could have asked for, including a red card and extra time, ended with a 3-1 win for River Plate. Lucas Pratto, Juan Fernando Quintero and Gonzalo Martinez scored for the winners, while Dario Benedetto found the back of the net for Boca Juniors.
Boca deservedly grabbed the lead in the first half
The game started extremely tight and while neither side looked on top in the early going, Boca Juniors always seemed to be slightly more threatening. They created the first chance in the 1th minute, when Pablo Perez fired from close range, but his attempt went straight to Franco Armani. However, that was nothing more than isolated play. The first 30 minutes were scrappy, sloppy and both sides looked inaccurate.
El Xeneize had another chance in the 31st minute, when Perez – again – tested the keeper from a tight angle, but a last-ditch challenge from Milton Casco saved the day for Los Millonarios. Boca looked decidedly on top at that point of the game, but River showed signs of life in the final 10 minutes. In fact, both sides left the best for the final minutes.
A huge error from Esteban Andrada nearly gave River the first goal of the game, but Boca’s counter broke the deadlock. An excellent through ball from Nahitan Nandez – the best player in this game – allowed Benedetto to get past Jonathan Maidana and then, he coolly placed the ball past Armani. It was the opener and the first half finished with a 1-0 lead for Boca. A deserved advantage based on how the first half happened.
River reacted in the second 45 minutes
River began the second half with a more aggressive approach, and Nacho Fernandez nearly equalised in the 49th minute with a long-range effort that went slightly wide. Los Millonarios continued to look like the more dangerous side and sent Juan Fernando Quintero to the pitch in an attempt to add more creativity, which made River look like a faster, more dangerous side. Boca tried to slow things down, but they couldn’t get things done. And River took advantage of that.
A delightful one-two found Nicolas Fernandez inside the box, who crossed the ball towards the middle to find Lucas Pratto. The towering striker tapped the ball home into the empty goal. Out of nowhere, River made it a 1-1 game and the final 20 minutes were bound to be extremely intense. Boca was forced to wake up, while River had all momentum on their side. However, that couldn’t have been further from the truth.
River pushed through the flanks, while Boca couldn’t do much to threaten Armani. The lack of ideas on both ends of the pitch was palpable, and as a result, the 90 minutes ended with a 1-1 draw and the game needed an extra-time period to find a winner.
The ET period decided the winner
The extra time delivered another plot twist, as Wilmer Barrios was sent off just two minutes into ET. As a result, the remaining 30 minutes followed the same scheme of the second half. River Plate had the best chances – youngster Julian Alvarez came close to score at the 102th mark – while Boca sat back and played on the counter. Defensively El Xeneize looked impressive, though. Leandro Magallán was an absolute stalwart at the back for Boca.
It seemed as if River were not going to take advantage of their one-man edge, but Quintero came through in the clutch. The Colombian blasted a 25-yard bomb that went into the top corner despite Andrada’s stretch, and River went up on the score. Boca sent Carlos Tevez into the pitch and they never gave up. Gago, Andrada, Tevez… everyone pushed forward, Boca finished with nine players due to an injury sustained by Fernando Gago, but River closed things out. It wasn’t easy, though.
Leandro Jara blasted the post in the 120th minute, and Boca would end up regretting that one last chance that didn’t go in. With Andrada on River’s box through a corner kick, Gonzalo Martinez placed the ball into an empty net to close things out with a 3-1 score.
El Millonario lifted their fourth title, but neutral fans should be extremely pleased. These two sides delivered us a game for the ages. And while the context surrounding the game will never be forgotten, in the end, football won thanks to an unforgettable match. As it should have always been.
Match Report
River Plate: Armani (7); Montiel (5) (Mayada (5), 74′), Maidana (5), Pinola (6), Casco (5); Ponzio (6) (Quintero (8), 58′); Fernandez (7) (Zuculini (-), 111′), Perez (5), Palacios (6) (Alvarez (-), 97′), Martinez (7); Pratto (6)
Bench not used: Lux (GK), Martinez, Mora
Boca Juniors: Andrada (6); Buffarini (7) (Tevez (-), 111′), Izquierdoz (5), Magallan (5), Olaza (4); Nandez (8), Barrios (6), Perez (5) (Gago (5), 89′); Villa (4) (Jara (-), 96′), Benedetto (7) (Abila (5), 62′), Pavon (5)
Bench not used: Rossi (GK), Goltz, Zarate
Goals: Benedetto (0-1, 44′), Pratto (1-1, 68′), Quintero (2-1, 109′), Martinez (3-1, 120′)
Referee: Andres Cunha (URU). He admonished Ponzio, Fernandez, Maidana, Casco (RIV), Perez, Tevez (BOC). He sent off Barrios (BOC).
Venue: Estadio Santiago Bernabeu (Madrid, Spain)
Attendance: 62,282
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