River Plate, with skill and good performance, thrashed Racing de Córdoba 3-0, in its debut for the Copa Argentina, for the classification without problems to the 16th. of end.
Forwards Miguel Borja and Lucas Beltrán and defender Leandro González Pirez scored the goals for the team led by Martín Demichelis, at the Único Madre de Ciudades Stadium in the province of Santiago del Estero.
The Núñez club will wait in the next instance for the winner between Talleres de Córdoba and Chacarita Juniors.
River’s victory in Santiago del Estero was unquestionable. Beyond the rotation arranged by Demichelis, there were almost no equivalences between a team, from the first division, and another, from the second category.
River went from minor to major, with Ignacio Fernández as the most lucid footballer of the game. From his feet the most dangerous plays in attack were born. In addition, River used the bands judiciously through the projections of Andrés Herrera and Elías Gómez.
With a successful Rodrigo Aliendro, in the role of Enzo Pérez, and the good contribution of Esequiel Barco, River distanced itself from the hierarchy of its players, but also through proper functioning as a team.
The first arrival of the “Millionaire” was with a shot by Borja, 25 minutes into the first half, which demanded the goalkeeper Leonardo Rodríguez, who sent the ball to the corner.
The match conveyed the feeling of a River controlling the actions against a Racing de Córdoba willing to capitalize on a mistake.
In this way, the clearest situation of the Cordoba team was produced with a quick counter generated between Nicolás Cavagnero and Walter Berrondo. Forward Franco Coronel, Racing’s only striker, later lost one-on-one with Ezequiel Centurión.
River tipped the balance in their favor with Borja’s goal, almost at the end of the first half. The overflow of Elías Gómez and his precise cross found the Colombian striker, who defined with class against Rodríguez.
The opening of the marker toned River and appeased Racing. Demichelis’s team came out determined in the second half and achieved the reassuring difference through Beltrán’s goal. The striker received a deep pass from Fernández for an excellent resolution.
González Pirez, with a header, finished the win for River and the joy of his people who filled the Santiago stadium, a place that fits him wonderfully because he won the six games he played with 22 goals for and only one against. He also won the 2019 Argentine Super Cup (vs. Racing 5-0) and the 2021 Champions Trophy (vs. Colón 4-0).
Had it not been for Leonardo Rodríguez, River would have achieved a greater advantage. Both Borja (on several occasions), as well as Barco and Pablo Solari could not with the goalkeeper.
River fulfilled its obligation and did it in good shape for a full night in Santiago del Estero.