River Plate ensured that Huracán suffered during their Copa Sudamericana semi-final but at full time the Estadio Tomás Adolfo Ducó erupted in celebration on Thursday night. Rodrigo Mora’s two late goals for the current holders and Copa Libertadores champions ensured a nervy finale but Huracán held firm and clinched a historic place in their first ever international final.
After securing a famous one-nil win in the Monumental, Huracán welcomed River to the Ducó expecting Marcelo Gallardo’s decorated champions to stretch them to the limit. Since lifting the Libertadores, River have suffered a remarkable slump in form but Los Millonarios were still a threat to this Huracán side and their attempt to make history.
However, the script was thrown out after only two minutes when an uncharacterisitc mistake from River goalkeeper Marcelo Barovero allowed Huracán to take a surprise lead. Preoccupied with the physical presence of Ramón Ábila, Barovero’s weak punch fell to the feet of Patricio Toranzo and the midfielder was able to volley the ball into the empty net and double the aggregate lead.
It got even better for the home side after 25 minutes when Ábila broke the River offside trap and clipped the ball over the on-rushing Barovero to head El Globo two in front.
Huracán were cruising into the final but with 30 minutes remaining young forward, Cristián Espinoza was stretchered off and it prompted a shift in momentum. Minutes later, Rodrigo Mora spectacularly volleyed a goal back after Lucas Alario’s knockdown and when the Uruguayan striker slotted in an equaliser with ten minutes still to play, River’s unlikely comeback suddenly seemed like a reality.
River pushed for a decisive third which would put them through on away goals but Huracán goalkeeper Marcos Díaz thwarted any attempts on his goal. In injury time, River midfielder Carlos Sánchez was sent off when he aggressively attempted to retrieve a ball from one of the young ball-boys and El Globo were able to cling onto their slender advantage.
Eduardo Domínguez and his Huracán side will now hope to go one better when they meet Independiente Santa Fe in the final.
golazo argentino 