Just like Independiente on Friday evening, a strong River Plate side were simply too much for lower league opposition in the Copa Argentina as Marcelo Gallardo’s side strolled to a 7-0 win over Federal B club Central Norte.

It took only four minutes for Ignacio Scocco to open the scoring, thumping in from close range after Ignacio Fernández’s knock down and when a swift counter resulted in Lucas Pratto rounding the keeper to double the lead after quarter of an hour, any hopes of another cup upset were over.

Scocco added his second shortly after with the Central Norte defence looking to have thrown in the towel and Lucas Martínez Quarta heading in a fourth just after the half hour mark suggested Independiente’s recently set Copa Argentina record of eight goals was already under threat.

Exequiel Palacios’ deflected effort made if five just before the break and minutes after the restart the impressive youngster pounced on a rebound for River’s sixth.

Rafael Santos Borré added a seventh with 25 minutes still to play but with River able to play at walking pace the goals stopped there. Marcelo Gallardo will have got little from the mismatch ahead of the Copa Libertadores clash with Racing but the Copa Argentina holders march on into the last 32 where they will play Villa Dálmine.

River Plate  7 – 0  Central Norte

Earlier in Sarandí, Atlético Tucumán avoided an upset after seeing off Primera B club Tristán Suárez. After wasting a host of chances, El Decano eventually sealed it ten minutes from time when Leandro Díaz found the net. Last year’s beaten finalists will now play either Huracán or Victoriano Arenas in the last 32.

Atlético Tucumán  1 – 0  Tristán Suárez