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ESRiver beats Libertad to advance to quarterfinals
On an emotional night at the Mâs Monumental, Marcelo Gallardo’s team drew 1-1 in regulation and clinched the win on penalties, with Franco Armani standing out by saving the final kick.
In the second leg of the CONMEBOL Libertadores round of 16, River hosted the Paraguayan side and took center stage in the opening half, creating multiple chances before Sebastián Driussi broke the deadlock. He capitalized on a rebound after Facundo Colidio’s attempt, following a superb pass from Marcos Acuña.
River had chances to extend the lead, but the visitors equalized late on with a Robert Rojas header from a corner kick. The game shifted in the second half after Giuliano Galoppo was sent off, but River showed grit and determination, forcing the match to penalties, where Armani became the hero by stopping Marcelo Fernández’s last kick and sparking the celebrations.
In the shootout, Nacho Fernández, Miguel Borja, and Lucas Martínez Quarta converted for River, while Acuña’s penalty was saved. For Libertad, only Viera scored, as Recalde and Caballero missed. River will now meet Palmeiras in the quarterfinals, after the Brazilian side knocked out Peru's Universitario.
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