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ESRiver draws with Monterrey in Dallas
Martín Demichelis’ team played its first preseason match on North American soil: Andrés Herrera scored a spectacular goal toward the end, securing the 1-1 draw.
Right from the off, River dominated possession and sought to threaten the goal defended by Luis Cárdenas. The first opportunity came at three minutes, with an excellent backheel from Agustín Ruberto and a slightly wayward finish by Nacho Fernández. Later, Esequiel Barco attempted a free-kick that was saved by the opposing keeper.
At the 20-minute mark, Monterrey saw its first opportunity, with a cross from the right that David Martínez almost scored an own goal from: Franco Armani made a low save, and on the rebound, Jesús Corona missed the goal. River had the last two chances of the first half, with Facundo Colidio and Barco leading the way and displaying effective offensive link-ups.
In the second half, the Mexican team had two chances through Sergio Canales, while River (with several changes) countered with a well-executed collective play and a dangerous cross from Andrés Herrera that Cárdenas saved low. Demichelis’ team had three consecutive very clear chances, including a powerful right-footed shot from Barco that hit the crossbar and a left-footed shot from Agustín Palavecino that went wide.
River continued to dominate, and debutant Franco Mastantuono came close to scoring in his first seconds wearing the River jersey, after an excellent free-kick that Cárdenas palmed away to his left. Nevertheless, Monterrey took the lead with a quick counterattack orchestrated by Rodrigo Aguirre.
The deserved equalizer came in the final stretch: a left-wing run by David Martínez and a rebound captured by Rodrigo Aliendro, who laid it off nicely for Herrera. Herrera unleashed a powerful, curling right-footed strike that left the keeper with no chance. Thus, River secured a draw in its first official preseason friendly; the team is set to play against Pachuca this Saturday.
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