The Colombian flyer started in the draw against Libertad, but came out in the second half after the expulsion of Galoppo and did not hide his discomfort. River won 3-1 on the penalties and will face Palmeiras in the quarterfinals.
Photo: EFE – Juan Ignacio Roncoroni
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River Plate is still alive in the Copa Libertadores. Marcelo Gallardo's team surpassed Freedom on a night full of tension in the Monumental, where the 1-1 draw in the 90 minutes led to a penalty definition that ended 3-1 in favor of the millionaire. With trade, steel nerves and the figure of Franco Armani in the arch, the Argentine team got among the eight best in America and will face Palmeiras, an old acquaintance of the tournament.
River started the match as usual in Núñez: owner of the ball, pressing high and pushed by a full stadium. The award reached 24 minutes, when an exquisite center by Marcos Acuña found Facundo Colidio. The striker lowered it and, after a bounce in the stick, Sebastián Driussi only had to push it for 1-0.
It seemed that the millionaire was going to handle the procedure calmly, but freedom was never resigned. Ordered back and fast in the transitions, he found the tie at the edge of the end: Robert Rojas, the former River, won in the air and silenced his former fans. The “Law of the Ex” had effect again.
The complement was another game. Giuliano Galoppo saw the red by double yellow and left River with ten at 52 minutes. Demichelis reacted quickly: he sacrificed Juan Fernando Quintero, headline until that moment, which generated gestures of disgust in the Colombian. Libertad smelled blood and had his chances, while River sustained as he could, without clarity or too many legs.
The entrance of Miguel Borja and Kevin Castaño gave air, but the team already played more with the heart than with the idea. Armani, once again, said.
The gestures of Juan Fernando Quintero with the substitution
In the final batch, River showed Temple. Nacho Fernández opened with a category, Borja confirmed the good income and Martínez Quarta assured the third. Armani, a specialist in these instances, was responsible for making a difference: he stopped, intimidated and transmitted security. Libertad failed three of his four shots and the Monumental broke out of relief.
See the penalties of River Plate vs. Freedom
River advanced, although with more suffering than brightness. Now Palmeiras awaits it, the hardest possible opponent in this instance. The Brazilian team easily eliminated University and comes packed. It will be a series that will measure the true roof of this River: if you can hold your champion ambition or if the Cup puts it again in its limits.
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