Matías Suárez from Córdoba, assisted by Julián Álvarez, scored the winning goal at the National Stadium in Lima 20 minutes into the second stage.
The bad news for River was the severe injury suffered by the Paraguayan Robert Rojas as a result of a cunning kick by Aldair Rodríguezwho was sent off by Colombian referee Wilmar Roldán.
The victory was unobjectionable for a River that fell short with the score because it generated several situations that it could not specify.
Marcelo Gallardo’s team, who accumulated his eighth Copa Libertadores in a row as coach of “Millonario”, dominated from the start against a rival who stopped with a 5-4-1, with Argentine striker Hernán Barcos as the only attacking reference .
Beyond dominance, River did not capture supremacy in the area. He tried with a cross from Santiago Simón that Álvarez failed to connect, with a shot from mid-range by Uruguayan Nicolás De La Cruz and a header from David Martínez, on a stopped ball, that went over the crossbar.
Alianza Lima tried to defend itself with great order, waiting for a stopped ball for Barco, who suffered the infallible mark of Jonatan Maidana. The experienced defender replaced the Chilean Paulo Díaz, affected by Covid-19.
The second half began with an oversight by River. Yordy Vílchez headed without a mark in the area and demanded a save from Franco Armani.
River regained prominence with the entry of Juan Fernando Quintero for Esequiel Barco and the attack was strengthened by the entry of Suárez to create spaces.
The Cordovan took advantage of Álvarez’s deep pass in the only moment where the Peruvian defense gave advantages. The former Belgrano de Córdoba defined a cross for a goal that relieved all of River.
Alianza Lima left his field and, revitalized by the changes, attacked a River that felt the wear and tear. At that moment, the security of Armani and the temper of Enzo Pérez, the figure of the team, reassured River.
In the final minutes, the last champion of Argentine soccer played with ten due to the departure of Rojas. Roldán admonished Rodríguez in the first instance, but then he saw the seriousness of the Paraguayan’s injury and showed him the red card.
River stepped strong in Lima, for a key victory, although it cost more than expected. He rescued Matías Suárez and suffered a severe injury to Rojas that changed the face of Gallardo’s squad.
River’s next appearance in group F will be on Wednesday the 13th, when it hosts Fortaleza from Brazil at the Monumental.
Source: Ambito
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