“El Millonario” began much better planted on the field, and had the first two clearest opportunities of the game: first, with a free kick from Gonzalo Martinez that Agustin Rossi managed to save from an angle, and then with a header from Lucas Martinez Quarta that went very close to the local goalkeeper's right post.
River continued with the opportunities: Rossi blocked a clear header from Rafael Borre. At "El Millonario's” best moment, Boca took the lead with a goal by Ramón Ábila, after a rebound. But immediately after came Lucas Pratto's 1-1, with a precise right cross after an assist from El Pity.
River deserved to end the 45 minutes with the advantage. Also, El Pity Martinez almost scored the second goal with a frontal shot, which Rossi managed to find. However, in the extra minutes, Dario Benedetto shoot a header in the area and scored the 2-1 for Boca Juniors.
In the restart, Gallardo's team had the first chance with an approach by Milton Casco, to which Boca responded with a situation through Carlos Izquierdoz. However, it was the same defender who deflected a good free kick from Pity Martinez and placed the well-deserved equalizer on the scoreboard.
The following minutes were tied and challenged. Pratto was unable to connect a center by Casco and, in the end, Armani became huge again, in a one-on-one with Benedetto, who shot after a Carlos Tevez's pass. Now, the series will be defined on November the 24th, at the Monumental.
SYNTHESIS
BOCA JUNIORS: Agustín Rossi; Leonardo Jara, Carlos Izquierdoz, Lisandro Magallán, Lucas Olaza; Pablo Pérez (C), Wilmar Barrios, Nahitan Nández; Sebastián Villa, Ramón Ábila and Cristian Pavón. DT: Guillermo Barros Schelotto.
Substitutes: Carlos Lampe, Paolo Goltz, Fernando Gago, Julio Buffarini, Mauro Zárate, Carlos Tevez and Darío Benedetto.
Changes: Benedetto for Pavón, Tevez for Villa, Buffarini for Jara.
RIVER PLATE: Franco Armani; Gonzalo Montiel, Jonatan Maidana (C), Lucas Martínez Quarta, Javier Pinola, Milton Casco; Exequiel Palacios, Enzo Pérez, Gonzalo Martínez; Rafael Borré and Lucas Pratto. DT: Marcelo Gallardo.
Substitutes: Germán Lux, Camilo Mayada, Bruno Zuculini, Juan Quintero, Ignacio Fernández, Julián Álvarez and Rodrigo Mora.
Changes: Fernández for Martínez Quarta, Zuculini for Pérez, Quintero for Martínez.
Goals: Ábila, Benedetto (BJ); Pratto, Izquierdoz (og) (RP).
Admonished: Jara, Villa, Ábila, Tevez (BJ); Casco, Borré (RP).
Referee: Roberto Tobar (Chile).
Assistants: Christian Schiemann and Claudio Ríos (Chile).
Fourth referee: Diego Haro (Peru).
VAR: Julio Bascuñán (Chile).
AVAR 1: Piero Maza (Chile).
AVAR 2: Carlos Astroza (Chile).