River Plate managed to secure a place in the Copa Libertadores final for the first time since 1996 despite a spirited performance from Paraguayan side Guaraní. Leading 2-0 from the first leg, River were made to sweat in Asunción and when Fernando Fernández gave the home side the lead on the night in the second half, an upset looked possible. However, with a little over ten minutes remaining two of Marcelo Gallardo’s recent signings combined to seal the tie. Uruguayan Tabaré Viúdez had only been on the pitch for around fifteen minutes to make his River debut but his exquisitely weighted through-ball found Lucas Alario and the 22-year-old produced an inch-perfect lob to score the most valuable of first goals.
The goal meant that Guaraní needed three to progress and so River knew that their place in the final was secure. Marcelo Gallardo deserves enormous praise for not only the style with which his team plays and some of the individuals that have blossomed under his tutelage but also from bringing River to this point when they were within a whisker of a group stage exit. Matías Kranevitter was once again imperious in central midfield and the new signings appear very astute on first impressions.
This River side are now on the brink of something very historic and will see tonight whether Internacional or Tigres will await them in the final. River have not been here since 1996, when Gallardo was a player, and they will be praying that they can add a third Libertadores title rather than another bitter memory of defeat.
golazo argentino 