Maximiliano benozzi
05/25/2021 18:01
Clarín.com
sports
Updated 05/25/2021 9:25 PM
The epic against Independiente Santa Fe had already been left behind.
And as much as the historical episode that River won an international match with a field player in goal and without substitutes stood out, it was clear that the level of difficulty was going to rise against a Brazilian team, no matter how much the team of Marcelo Gallardo has been able to recover several of the players infected by the outbreak of coronavirus infections, complete a team and have players on the relay bench.
So it was.
River fell 3-1 but also qualified for the last 16 of the Copa Libertadores
because Junior could not beat Independiente Santa Fe.
Before ten minutes, Fluminense warned with a header from Nené that he went very close.
River could not accommodate the game.
With a riveted team and without several of its main figures as starters,
Gallardo's team had a hard time getting a footing.
In defense, the wingers (especially the youthful Lecanda) suffered their backs and in the midfield, the double five between De La Cruz and Peña had no connection or recovery.
And in attack he lacked weight in the first half.
There were just a couple of specific arrivals.
One of them ended with a double cover by Marcos Felipe, Simón, first and Álvarez, later.
Until Carrascal lost (one of many) a ball in attack for delivering it badly and from there came the counterattack that ended in Fluminense's first goal.
The Colombian himself had the tie on his feet, after a good personal maneuver, but hit the post.
Not even when he does them well things turn out.
A while later, River paid dearly for another mistake.
This time on a bad start from the bottom.
And he went 0-2 at halftime.
⚽ Caio Paulista # Libertadores pic.twitter.com/I6gSFedVab
- ➿ (@ArgGol) May 25, 2021
⚽ Nenê # Libertadores pic.twitter.com/65iFA3WEep
- ➿ (@ArgGol) May 25, 2021
Gallardo changed players at halftime.
On the field were Rojas (ordered the defense), Palavecino and Suárez.
And disarmed the double five.
Peña was only "5" (and raised his level) and De La Cruz went to the left.
But River lacked dynamics and intensity.
And it was logical, after the covid outbreak.
River managed to discount with Girotti's goal but it was far from the draw.
Without Maidana, who lost his head and was sent off by a tremendous blow to Caio, he was very badly stopped and Fluminense finished him off at the end.
⚽Federico Girotti # Libertadores pic.twitter.com/irjPjJWoAA
- ➿ (@ArgGol) May 26, 2021
By that time, everyone was more aware of what was happening between Junior and Independiente Santa Fe. A goal from Barranquilla sent River to the Sudamericana.
There was a lot of tension.
But relief came with the news of the 0-0 draw between the Colombians.
As in the 2015 Cup, River depended on another result to qualify (that time it was Tigres' victory over Juan Aurich).
Then, he was champion ...
⚽ Yago Felipe # Libertadores pic.twitter.com/JLBm1gAgnV
- ➿ (@ArgGol) May 26, 2021
Look also
Coronavirus in River, Bologna and Paulo Díaz with sequels: why will the Chilean go a month without playing?
120th anniversary: the emotional video of River Plate with the voice of Marcelo Gallardo
