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ESRiver draws with Velez at the Monumental Stadium Marcelo Gallardo’s team had a good match before the official tournament starts: River drew 0-0, with Juan Quintero’s positive comeback and the team’s orderly and piercing performance in the attack.
After a tight beginning to the match in the midfield and with no team clearly dominating, Velez took two shots on goal: in the first one, Lucas Pratto took the ball up the right-hand side and struck a corner kick. Nicolas Garayalde volleyed the rebound, but Franco Armani easily saved the low shot. Meanwhile, River threatened Velez's goal when Enzo Fernandez passed the ball to Julian Alvarez, but the forward’s shot went long.
El Millonario took another shot on goal from the left-hand side, off a threatening off-target cross from Elias Gomez, but Lucas Hoyos forced a corner kick. Enzo Perez, captain for the night, set up Santiago Simon for a goal, but the youth player's shot was cleared by the home defense. Julian took a direct free kick that went just wide of the keeper's right-hand goalpost.
Regarding the last very clear plays of the first half, each team set up one each: Fernandez passed the ball to Tomas Pochettino who, from outside the box, volleyed the ball, which bounced on a defender and went just wide of Hoyos’ right-hand goalpost. Armani came quickly off his line and blocked Jose Florentin on the left-hand side.
The second half started on a similar note, with Velez hinting at making penetrating runs. On the other hand, River had a very clear chance thanks to a long-range shot by Fernandez that Hoyos barely managed to clear with his left leg. David Martinez was also close to scoring, off a corner kick. Velez responded with a clear shot by Lucas Janson, which was easily saved by Armani, and Florentin took another shot on goal that was cleared by River’s No. 1.
River kept trying to score and was very close to doing it thanks to a cross by Fernandez, which was cleared by Hoyos, and a shot by Julian with his back to the goal, from the left-hand side and with little angle, that smashed the crossbar. Toward the end, River took the lead and set up several interesting as well as threatening plays at the feet of Juanfer Quintero.
As a result of the draw, Velez was awarded the trophy. The trophy was awarded by Juan Pablo Funes, son of the memorable and legendary “Bufalo”. River will continue getting ready to make its League Cup debut, playing against Union next Saturday, in Santa Fe.
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