The first leg of the Copa Libertadores quarter-finals between River and Colo Colo, played at the Monumental David Arellano Stadium in Santiago, ended in a 1-1 draw that keeps the series open for the return match in Buenos Aires.
The match began with both teams displaying intense and dynamic play. Riverled by Marcelo Gallardo, sought to impose their style of play from the first minute, while Colo Colo, under the direction of Jorge Almirón, tried to take advantage of their home field status to gain an advantage in the series.
The first half of the match was highly contested, with both teams creating scoring opportunities but failing to convert them. The first goal of the match came 43 minutes into the first half, when River Plate defender Germán Pezzella took advantage of a free kick to head the ball into the back of the net, putting his team ahead.
This goal was a morale boost for Colo Colo, who had been pressing and trying to open the scoring without success. However, the Chilean team did not lose heart and continued to fight to equalize the score.
In the second half, Colo Colo came out with a more aggressive attitude, seeking the equalizer from the first minute. Their efforts were rewarded in the 60th minute, when Carlos Palacios managed to score the equaliser after a collective play that dismantled the defense of River Plate.
This goal was reviewed by the VAR due to a possible offside position, but was ultimately validated, which sparked joy among the home fans. The draw encouraged Colo Colo, who continued to attack and create danger in the Millo area.
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However, goalkeeper Franco Armani became a key figure for the Argentine team, making several important saves that prevented Colo Colo from taking the lead. For his part, River He also had his chances to score, but was unable to convert them due to the solid defense of the Chilean team and the outstanding performance of his goalkeeper.
The match became more physical and tense in the final minutes, with several fouls and yellow cards for both teams. At 90 minutes, the referee decided to send off Paulo Díaz of River and Maximiliano Falcón of Colo Colo after an altercation between the two players. These expulsions left both teams with ten players and added more drama to the final minutes of the match.
