EN
ESRiver thrashes Colo-Colo and qualifies as group leader Marcelo Gallardo’s team beat Colo-Colo 4-0 at the Mâs Monumental Stadium, qualifying for the CONMEBOL Libertadores Round of 16. The goal scorers were Agustin Palavecino, Nico De La Cruz, David Martinez, and Esequiel Barco.
On another Libertadores night at the Mâs Monumental Stadium, River faced Colo-Colo with fewer players due to different injuries and positive COVID-19 cases. Nonetheless, the team was determined to play and reaffirm its position as undefeated leader of Group F. The first clear scoring chance was a great header from David Martinez that went just wide of Brayan Cortes’s right goalpost.
Then, the Chilean team struck two shots, but Paulo Diaz prevented River from conceding goals by closing down Pablo Solari’s cross aimed at the heart of the goal area. From then onwards, River dominated the match: Nicolas De La Cruz started threatening the goal on the right-hand side, and Agustin Palavecino struck a good shot on goal that went just wide of the home team's left goalpost. De La Cruz made another attempt from outside the box, but he missed the goal. River’s first goal was scored toward the end of the first half: No. 11 found his way into the box and his shot bounced off of Palavecino, with the ball flying over the rival keeper and into the goal.
A few minutes into the second half, Julian Alvarez set up a good play on the left-hand side and almost scored the second goal, but the keeper made a good low save on his shot. In the counterattack, Gabriel Costa ran up the right-hand side of the field and struck a right-footed shot that smashed against Ezequiel Centurion’s near post. River set the score at 2-0 thanks to a header from De La Cruz on the goal line, after Enzo Fernandez scooped up the ball. Enzo could have scored the third goal, but the keeper saved his shot.
River dominated even more after the second goal and continued threatening Colo-Colo's goal. It had some chances to widen the lead at the feet of Enzo, Mammana, and Julian. After many attempts, the team finally scored the third goal off a corner kick: Mammana glanced in the ball and Martinez sent it into the goal. Soon after, River set the score at 4-0, when De La Cruz recovered the ball and opened up a pass to Julian, who set up Esequiel Barco for a goal.
Colo-Colo could have reduced the deficit in one counterattacking play, but Pablo Solari's shot smashed against the crossbar, and another shot from Juan Lucero was excellently saved by Ezequiel Centurion. Thanks to this great win, River is now officially leading Group F and has secured its qualification for the Round of 16 as one of the best top teams, one matchday away from the end. River’s last group stage match will take place next Wednesday, against Alianza Lima, at the Mâs Monumental Stadium.
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