May 15, 2024, 10:05 AM
May 15, 2024, 10:05 AM
The Argentinian River Plate qualified for the round of 16 of the 2024 Copa Libertadores by defeating Paraguayan Libertad 2-0, in a match for the fifth round of Group H played this Tuesday at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires.
He Colombian Miguel Borja (41 and 84) scored the double for the triumph of the Millionaire, who in addition to advancing to the next stage will also secured qualification for the FIFA Club World Cup in 2025.
With this result, River adds 13 points and leads Group H, followed by the Uruguayan Nacional (7), Libertad (4) and Deportivo Táchira (1), in a fifth date that will be completed on Wednesday with the crossing between the Bolso and the Venezuelans.
As expected, River tried to corner early Gumarelo with intense pressure at the start, and soon came close to scoring, with a placed left foot from Nacho Fernández that brushed the left channel, and a right foot from the Uruguayan Sant’Anna that forced Morínigo to stretch to reach the left corner.
But the Paraguayan team resisted, lmanaged to settle better on the ground, He accumulated people in the middle of the field and began to discuss River’s dominance, and was almost surprised in a corner kick in which Franco Armani had to make an effort after a deflection off the experienced Roque Santa Cruz.
However, the local team took control again when they found room to advance along the sides, and once again gave work to Morinigo, who had to demand himself to save a shot from Colidio that went into the corner, and immediately it was Paulo Díaz who headed and the ball hit the base of the post when the goalkeeper was no longer there.
It seemed that the first half was ending at zero, but before the end River gained the advantage, in an opening on the left for the climb of Casco, who sent the center to the middle of the area, Viera failed to clear and the The ball remained at the feet of Borja, who shot Morínigo with a half turn.
There was still time left for the visit for a chance to match, in another corner kick, but Hernesto Caballero’s placed shot went wide of the left upright.
For the second part, the Guaraní team It was planted later on the ground, and tried to play River as an equal, and thus the match went back and forth, although the impression was that, within that development, the Argentine team was always a little more dangerous in its arrivals.
The veteran Roque Santa Cruz had the tie, but Armani avoided it with a quick exit, and the local team responded with a free kick from Fernández that was just off target, and a quick counterattack that Colidio defined, but without the proper direction, and then Morínigo saved from a shot by Solari.
Ariel Galeano looked for depth with the additions of Bareiro, Aguilar and Tacuara Cardozo, but the accumulation of forwards did not give him results, and River sentenced the duel near the end, when Solari escaped from the right, dragged marks and assisted Borja, who arrived on the other side, hooked towards the middle, and He placed a corner shot, far from the goalkeeper.
with the pass assured to the second round and the Club World Cup, River still has to ratify the first step and the chance to be one of the best first in the face of the elimination rounds.
