River will go for glory in the Monumental

In the first final match of the Bridgestone Libertadores Cup, River visited Tigres in Monterrey and ended tied at zero, result that leaves the series opened for the great definition in the Monumental. In the beginning, Gallardo"s team came out to play on rival field and complicated with the appearances of a “spicy” Viudez.

The Uruguayan generated several fouls and, in charge of the free-kicks, caused the first millionaire clear chance, when, after a rebound, Mercado hit the ball uncomfortable from the penalty spot. The Mexicans answered with an overflowing of Damm, whose crossed kick bounced in Vangioni"s leg and ended up by crashing in the crossbar.

Then, River returned to be close to opening the score when, after a brilliant movement of Sanchez, the goalkeeper Guzman won the contest against Alario when the ex-Colon prepared to dribble him and score. On the closing of the first half, Mercado saw the yellow card, sanction that leaves him out of the rematch due to accumulation of cards.

In the second half, parity continued through out the match. Already without Viudez on the field (had to be replaced due to a muscular discomfort), River tried to unbalance the rival by the left side with Bertolo, very active in the first few minutes of that period. In the last part of the match, the local team tried to tilt the field, but River answered with a well-ordered scheme that highlighted the firmness of Maidana and Kranevitter. In addition, an always safe Barovero had a big reaction to turn away Juninho"s violent free kick and knew how to wait for Damm when, in a hand to hand, had the clearest chance for the Mexicans.

Thus came the end, with a draw that ended up being fair and that leaves River near a victory that will make real his great obsession. Next Wednesday, in the Monumental, Gallardo’s team will go for the glory.

Tigres: Nahuel Guzmán; Israel Jiménez, Hugo Ayala, Juninho, Jorge Torres Nilo; Egidio Arévalo Ríos, Guido Pizarro, Damián Álvarez, Jürgen Damm; Rafael Sobis, André-Pierre Gignac. Substitutes: Enrique Palos, Iván Estrada, Enrique Esqueda, José Torres, Edgar Lugo, José Rivas, Jesús Dueñas. Coach: Ricardo Ferretti.

River Plate: Marcelo Barovero; Gabriel Mercado, Jonatan Maidana, Ramiro Funes Mori, Leonel Vangioni; Carlos Sánchez, Matías Kranevitter, Leonardo Ponzio, Tabaré Viudez; Rodrigo Mora, Lucas Alario. Substitutes: Julio Chiarini, Eder Álvarez Balanta, Luis González, Nicolás Bertolo, Gonzalo Martínez, Javier Saviola, Fernando Cavenaghi. Coach: Marcelo Gallardo.

Substitutions: Rivas for Ayala, Dueñas for Arévalo Ríos (T); Martínez for Mora, Bertolo for Viudez, González for Ponzio (RP).

Yellow Cards: Sobis, Damm (T); Vangioni, Mercado, Ponzio (RP).

Referee: Antonio Arias; Assistants: Eduardo Cardozo y Juan Zorrilla; Substitute Referee: Julio Quintana (all from Paraguay).

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