River Plate’s Copa Sudamericana title defence is still very much on after Marcelo Gallardo’s side eventually took the initiative against relative minnows, Chapecoense in the Monumental. Clashes between Argentine and Brazilian clubs are usually meetings between two of South America’s heavyweights but the visit of provincial side, Chapecoense in their first foray into international competition was anything but. Since lifting the Copa Libertadores, River have seen their form slump domestically and despite enduring some tricky spells on Wednesday night, proved too strong for their visitors.
Uruguayan Carlos Sánchez, a favourite to be named South American footballer of the year, opened the scoring after 20 minutes, running onto Milton Casco’s cut-back to steer the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the penalty area and after a difficult few weeks, the relief of Gallardo and the players was evident.
The lead did not last long, however, as River were undone by the most route-one of goals. A goalkick was flicked on twice and with Jonathan Maidana caught napping, Maranhão ran in behind and sneaked the ball beneath Marcelo Barovero.
With an away goal on the board, River knew that they needed something and just after the hour mark, Leonardo Pisculichi produced something rather special. The veteran midfielder has looked a shade of the player that helped River lift the Libertadores in recent months but the 35-yard free-kick that flew past Danilo and into the net was of the highest quality.
Chapecoense would perhaps not have been too displeased with only a one-goal deficit ahead of the second leg but with five minutes remaining, some awful defending allowed Sánchez to tap in his second of the match and hand River a huge advantage.
The two sides will meet again next Wednesday in Brazil but it would be a huge shock if River’s lead were overturned. A semi-final tie against either Atlético Paranaense or Sportivo Luqueño awaits the winner.
golazo argentino 