Buenos Aires, Argentina /
Argentine River Plate qualified for the semi-finals of the Copa Libertadores by defeating Chile’s Colo Colo 1-0 on Tuesday in a quarter-final rematch played in Buenos Aires that cost ‘Muñeco’ Gallardo’s team more than expected.
Facundo Colidio (16) scored the only goal of the night at the Monumental for the ‘millionaire’ team, who took over the series with a global score of 2-1, after the 1-1 draw in the first leg last week in Santiago.
Colidio, goal at the right time
The meeting had a dynamic start, based on the good intention of the Chilean team to challenge the local team’s prominence with pressure in the middle and some good associations, but the development was soon to suffer an abrupt change.
Perhaps in Colo Colo’s best moment, River had a frontal free kick that fell into the Chilean area, Amor cleared the ball with his head and Santiago Simon took the ball to put it back into the area. Arturo Vidal stayed at the back, passing it, and Colidio came in from the right to define with a precise touch before the exit of Brayan Cortés.
The goal was a hard blow for Colo Colo, the one who had a hard time reacting after being at a disadvantageand a treasure for a River that found the necessary ease to have control of the game.
With more ambition, River began to find attractive spaces to attack thanks to the mobility of Collision on the attack front and with Simon and Kranevitter taking over half the court.
The home team was so excited that even goalkeeper Franco Armani dared to avoid Arturo Vidal in his own area, although the Millonario still needed a bit of effectiveness in finishing to finish off the series.
But the visitors started better again in the second half.with the team standing further up the field, determined to take on the series favorite, and had a couple of interesting approaches.
First in semis in 2024
However, the ‘Cacique’ lacked offensive weight, having possession of the ball, especially in the second half, but fading away every time it approached the local area, where Pezzella and González Pirez built a wall.
Almirón made changes, Colo Colo became desperate in a tense finale and had a couple of chances that he couldn’t take advantage of, the clearest being a cross shot by Cristian Zavala that Armani blocked. In the final seconds, a header by Paiva from the centre that lacked power and direction to complicate the game for the local goalkeeper.
Thus, River got the ticket to the semi-finalsafter a difficult series, with a Colo Colo that fought back for 180 minutes. A couple of details allowed Gallardo’s team to make the necessary difference and increase the hope of going in search of the fifth Copa Libertadores in its history.
In the semi-finals, River will face the winner of the series between Brazilian teams Fluminense and Atlético Mineirowith a partial advantage for the Cariocas, current champions, who won the first leg 1-0.
AVV
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