River beat Godoy Cruz and qualified for the quarterfinals Marcelo Gallardo’s team won 1-0 at Lanus’s stadium, after Joaquín Varela scored an own goal, and qualified for the next stage of the Argentine Cup.

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As it has happened in the last few matches, el Millionario was the one in control and started pressuring Godoy Cruz. The first threat came after a good combination from the left between Nicolás De La Cruz and Rafael Borré, but the rival goalkeeper closed in on the Colombian when he tried to define from below. The team from Mendoza answered with a shot by Néstor Breitenbruch which was blocked by Franco Armani.

River kept threatening from the left and, after a pass from De La Cruz to Matías Suárez, an own goal was almost scored through a header. After a free kick by Nacho Fernández, Joaquín Varela headed the ball and scored the first goal, an own goal, for el Millionario. Nacho also tried from outside and Andrés Mehring responded well.

However, Godoy Cruz had a clear opportunity, after a one on one by Leandro Vella, but the player’s definition was deflected when Armani approached him. River could have scored the second one at the end of the first half, with clear situations at the Borré’s feet (crossed right-footed shot after a pass from De La Cruz), another shot by Nacho Fernández which was saved by the goalkeeper (and Borré couldn’t win the rebound), a clear opportunity for Suárez in front of the goal and a deflected header by the Colombian forward, at the end of the first half.

In the second half, River wasn’t disturbed, it could control the match and, even though it didn’t have as many goal opportunities as in the first half, it was close to widening the gap through very clear plays: Jorge Carrascal had two opportunities, Nacho Fernández smashed a free-kick against the crossbar and Exequiel Palacios almost scores after an assist by Lucas Pratto.

Now, Marcelo Gallardo’s team will wait for the winner of the match between Talleres de Córdoba and Almagro, and on Sunday, it will host Vélez Sarsfield at the Monumental Stadium, for the Superleague.

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