The Copa Libertadores began for River in its own stadium, against a rival with history in the competition such as Nacional from Uruguay. Last week’s victory in Venezuela had been against a very inferior opponent in terms of technical and strategic aspects.
The leader of the Uruguayans is Alvaro Recoba, who performed on the field with a great capacity for imbalance, and with a clearly offensive vocation. The former midfielder, from outside the field, gives his team a mark similar to the one he exhibited.
The Uruguayans made it clear that they did not come to the Monumental to get at least one point, but rather they positioned themselves with the intention of taking the development of the game close to Armani’s area. River, as usually happens, was the one that first sought to have the leading role, and the one that launched itself in search of rapid imbalance.
In any case, after River attacked with depth and demanded goalkeeper Mejía, the visiting team responded with another dangerous arrival. The duel was very dizzying at the beginning, and that caused the euphoria of the public in the stands, on a very cold night.
The goal came after 15 minutes for River, with a great definition from Echeverri, upon receiving the ball from Borja. The youth finished from mid-range and placed it next to the post. Mejía stretched but couldn’t reach it. The difference caused more reaction from the Uruguayans, who moved forward a few meters on the field.
Carneiro and the Nigerian Ebere were the ones who had the best opportunities to equalize, but Armani appeared several times to prevent it. River placed everything in the creativity of Echeverri, who led the offensive forays of the local team. The one who could not accompany him successfully was Solari, and the one who came into play little was Borja.
They looked for River’s scorer more insistently in the second half, and he generated greater danger in the area. Aliendro arrived and was close to increasing the lead, but the ball hit the crossbar. The local team once again had the initiative about 15 minutes into that half, and the feeling was that they could score again.
Solari wasted some situations, because he did not make the right decisions in the finishing area. Nacional, starting in the 25th minute, had possession of the ball and evened out the game. The Uruguayans needed to get it right in the last play, and in River the figure of Paulo Díaz grew to reject from above and below.
The uncertainty remained until the end, but Nacional’s push had no reward and River sealed the victory with Colidio’s goal, with a header, in stoppage time.
2024-04-12 01:54:55
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