River won in Bogotá and qualified El Millonario beat Independiente Santa Fe 1-0, with a goal by Lucas Pratto, and passed to the round of sixteen of the CONMEBOL Libertadores when there is still one more round to be played.

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River went out determined since the beginning in Bogotá and quickly took control over the encounter. The players put into practice Marcelo Gallardo’s idea; Santa Fe could not find its place and the chances to score began to appear: first Jonatan Maidana warned with a header after a center from Juan Quintero and then it was Lucas Pratto’s turn with a long shot, after a triangulation with Gonzalo Martínez and Quintero.

After an approach from the local with a shot from far that did not cause any danger in Franco Armani’s goal, River’s goal arrived: an amazing move by Quintero, who controlled in his own field and headed towards the rival area to give the goal to Pratto (precise definition from below facing Robinson Zapata’s start).

River did not fin comfort in that and was close to the second goal with a high shot from Pity Martínez and a one-to-one by Gonzalo Montiel (after Quintero’s assist), that Zapata could stop just enough. In the end, Armani became gigantic when facing a cross-header form Baldomero Perlaza and avoided the tie for Santa Fe.

In the second half, the home team became protagonist to go for the tie. It had clear situations at William Tesillo’s head and in a tremendous volley by Jhon Pajoy that went out close to Armani’s right corner. Besides, Wilson Morelo came up with a good individual move and kicked a cross-shot, but  Lucas Martínez Quarta deflected it on the line.

Gallardo’s team secured its position in the field, guaranteed the game and got a good victory that gave it the qualification to the round of sixteen, when there is still one more round to be played. In the closing of Group D, River will receive Flamengo in the Monumental Stadium. 

SYNTHESIS

SANTA FE: Robinson Zapata; Carlos Arboleda, José Moya, William Tesillo (Captain), Leivyn Balanta; Juan Daniel Roa, Baldomero Perlaza; Armando Vargas; Jhon Pajoy, Anderson Plata and Wilson Morelo. Coach: Agustín Julio Castro.
Substitutes: Miguel Solís, Carlos Henao, Víctor Giraldo, Sebastián Salazar, Almir Soto, Rubén Bentancourt and Brayan Fernández.
Substitutions: Salazar for Vargas, Giraldo for Balanta, Fernández for Roa.

RIVER PLATE: Franco Armani; Gonzalo Montiel, Jonatan Maidana, Javier Pinola, Lucas Martínez Quarta, Marcelo Saracchi; Enzo Pérez, Leonardo Ponzio (Captain), Juan Quintero; Gonzalo Martínez and Lucas Pratto. Coach: Marcelo Gallardo.
Substitutes: Germán Lux, Camilo Mayada, Bruno Zuculini, Ignacio Fernández, Rafael Borré, Rodrigo Mora and Ignacio Scocco.
Substitutions: Borré for Martínez, Fernández for Quintero, Mayada for Pérez.

Goal: Pratto (RP).

Booked: Balanta (SF); Borré (RP).

Referee: Roberto Tobar (Chile).
Assistant referees: Claudio Ríos and José Retamal (Chile).
Fourth Official: Piero Maza (Chile).