River Plate: Four times winner of the Libertadores Cup

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The most anticipated and controversial final of the Libertadores Cup came with the victory of River, who took advantage of his numerical advantage to win 3-1 over Boca Juniors

River Plate was crowned champion of the Libertadores Cup for the fourth time in its history (1986, 1996, 2015 and 2018), according to Baenegocios. After overtaking and making an excellent comeback, the game concluded 3-1. The game was played in an unprecedented way at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid. Boca Juniors couldn't win, after the team was left with 9 men, including the expulsion of Wilmar Barrios and the injury of Fernando Gago, just after having exhausted his four changes.

Leer en español: River Plate gritó "Campeón" por cuarta vez en la Copa Libertadores

The Colombian Juan Fernando Quintero was the figure of the game because he gave more dynamism to River, and scored the second goal, that made the difference in the extra time with a left-footed angle.

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The 90s: a time for each one

Boca was superior in the first half from its greater dynamism and accuracy against an unknown River, which missed the passes, and shots on goal. Pablo Perez, who spent all the first time protesting, had the first chance at 10 minutes when, after a corner shot by Javier Pinola, the rebound of that play was left to the player xeneize, but he finished very soft his volley at the hands of Franco Armani.

At 28 minutes again Perez was the protagonist and after a free kick that generated a rebound, he could not define one on one with Armani in a shot that was deflected to the corner by Milton Casco but was not seen that way by the referee, the Uruguayan Andrés Cunha.

Finally, at minute 43, and after River missed a blunder of goalkeeper Andrada through Gonzalo Martínez, a precise pass against Nández, left only Dario Benedetto with goalkeeper Armani, who beat low and crossed after a sprint, placing the 1-0 in the Santiago Bernabéu.

Barely two minutes after a strong shot from Nacho Fernandez touched the goal defended by Andrada. Then, at 55 minutes, a confused between Adrada and Lucas Pratto made suspect if there was a penalty after the clash between them. However, Cunha considered missing In the second half, the millionaires improved and started with everything River, not as clear as in other games, was getting closer and finally in the 67th, called after a great wall between Nacho Fernández and Pratto, which the latter sent to the back of the net with the goalkeeper unguarded for 1-1 .

Boca was not the same of the first half and only had a clear in the 75th minute, after a foul near the area that Naitan Nández received, and that was charged by Pavón. From then on, the game was very locked in the physical and no major goal actions were generated. Although River, with the entrance of Juan Fernando Quintero, tried to change history with more possession and desire than ideas.

Thus, they reached the extension in which Boca, in the first minutes received the blow of the expulsion of his key man in the midfield, Wilmar Barrios, for a double yellow, had to adapt to the game with fewer men on the field.

The absence Barrios gave River more confidence, that with Quintero managing the rhythms of the match began to arrive, this time yes, with greater clarity to the arch of Andrada. After the first goalless extension, just five minutes IGNORE INTO the second, a jewel of a goal by Juan Fernando Quintero, who with a left-footed shot nailed the ball IGNORE INTO the top corner of the near post guarded by Andrada, started to straighten the path.

Another counterattack that Gonzalo 'El Pity' Martinez knocked out gave life to Boca, who three minutes later saw how he was left with 9 for voluntary departure of Fernando Gago, who was injured and could not even move on the field.

sentenced the final. River Plate again champion of the Libertadores and will represent America in the Club World Cup that starts this week. In the final two minutes of the extension, ecstasy occurred. Boca could tie it after a good cross-shot by Leonardo Jara at 120, and then, coming off the goal, a lethal counterattack was culminated by Martinez alone and with the door empty for the final 3-1.

So they lined up:

LatinAmerican Post | Onofre Zambrano

Translated from: 'River Plate gritó "Campeón" por cuarta vez en la Copa Libertadores'