Both created the only goal of the match between the franjirrojos and Monterrey
It is the first friendly of the three that the Argentines will play in the US
Ezequiel Barco set the pace and the assist for Lucas Beltrán to score this Tuesday with a right cross the goal of the triumph of River Plate against Monterrey (1-0) in the Q2 stadium in Austin (Texas), in the first of three friendly of the Argentine club planned in the United States.
After seventy minutes with few emotions, Barco took the field and changed everything in River’s lead, with spark, rhythm and touches of class. In one of them, he reached the edge of the area and gave Beltrán the pass for the winning goal that allowed River to enthusiastically reach the next appointments against Millonarios and Vasco da Gama.
It was played with few fans in the stands and with slow rhythms on the pitch. Monterrey started better, with the Colombian Duván Vergara trying to change pace, although the best chances were for River. Demichelis’s team pressed high and went close to the lead twice in the space of four minutes, between minutes 23 and 27. Veteran Jonathan Maidana brushed the first goal with a header in an action originating from a corner kick and only a great save by goalkeeper Luis Cárdenas denied him joy. Shortly after, Nacho Fernández had a good opportunity inside the area, but his left foot shot was saved by Cárdenas with another good save.
Monterrey’s coach, Victor Manuel Vucetich, made up to eight substitutions in the first twenty minutes of the restart and his team increased the intensity, until they had their first good chance. It was in the 58th minute, when Sebastián Vegas tried it with a direct free kick that Centurión managed to save. Demichelis wanted to wait before making changes and his first substitutions came in minute 70, when he gave way to Barco and Iván Alfonso, before taking out Borja for Beltrán.
His changes could not have gone better. Barco gave the spark that River needed in each play, carrying the ball with quality and speed and the former Atlanta United player would soon be decisive. Vegas lost a naive ball in midfield, Barco carried the ball and offered, with the outside of his right leg, the assist for Beltrás to finish with a right cross.
The party heated up and, minutes later, Vegas would end his game by seeing two yellow cards in a few seconds and being sent off. Despite a goal disallowed in the final minutes for offside, Monterrey ended the duel leaving a poor image.
River Plate will travel to Miami to face Millonarios on January 14 at the DRV PNK Stadium, home of Inter Miami, and will then travel to Orlando to face Vasco da Gama. Monterrey, which began the Mexican championship with a 0-1 defeat against Las Chivas de Guadalajara, will return to the field on January 14 with a visit to Cruz Azul.
