In a tightly contested match at the Estadio Único La Pedrera, River Plate triumphed over Ciudad Bolívar with a score of 1-0 in the Copa Argentina Round 17. The decisive moment arrived in the dying minutes of the game when Juan Fernando Quintero converted a penalty kick, sealing the win for the Millonario in the 42nd minute of the second half.
Ciudad Bolívar struggled to find their rhythm throughout the match, with Tomás Galván having the best chance to score just two minutes into stoppage time, only to see his shot hit the post.
Quintero stood out as the star of the match, not just for his goal but also for his six attempts on target. Another notable performer for River Plate was Tomás Galván, who tested the Ciudad Bolívar defense with five shots.
In a moment of flair, forward Agustín Ruberto showcased his skills, leaving his marker bewildered with a spectacular nutmeg in the first half at the 32-minute mark.
Under the guidance of manager Marcelo Gallardo, River Plate deployed a 4-4-2 formation featuring Santiago Beltrán in goal; a defensive line of Gonzalo Montiel, Lucas Martínez Quarta, Paulo Díaz, and Matías Viña; a midfield including Fausto Vera, Aníbal Moreno, Juan Fernando Quintero, and Tomás Galván; with Agustín Ruberto and Maximiliano Salas leading the attack.
On the opposing side, Ciudad Bolívar, managed by Diego Funes, lined up in a 4-5-1 formation with Agustín Rufinetti in goal; a defense comprising Agustín Paredes, Ezequiel Navarro, Elías Martínez, and Emanuel Cuello; a midfield of Nahuel Yeri, Brian Quintana, Guillermo Sánchez, Arnaldo González, and Alex Díaz; along with Khalil Caraballo in front.
The match was officiated by referee Nicolás Ramírez, who kept a close eye on a physical game that saw several bookings for Ciudad Bolívar, including infractions from Ezequiel Navarro and Elías Martínez.
With this victory, River Plate advances to the Round of 32 in the tournament, looking to carry this momentum into their next challenge.
Substitutions in River Plate:
- 82’ 2T – Tomás Galván for Santiago Lencina
- 89’ 2T – Juan Fernando Quintero for Giuliano Galoppo
Substitutions in Ciudad Bolívar:
- 58’ 2T – Guillermo Sánchez for Facundo Mucignat
- 58’ 2T – Khalil Caraballo for Brian Duarte
- 58’ 2T – Agustín Ruberto for Joaquín Freitas
- 58’ 2T – Fausto Vera for Ian Subiabre
- 58’ 2T – Maximiliano Salas for Facundo Colidio
- 71’ 2T – Agustín Paredes for Federico Peralta
- 71’ 2T – Arnaldo González for Yonathan Maciel
- 87’ 2T – Brian Quintana for Lautaro Villegas
Yellow Cards for Ciudad Bolívar:
- 32’ 1T – Elías Martínez (Unsporting behavior)
- 4’ 2T – Khalil Caraballo (Unsporting behavior)
- 26’ 2T – Arnaldo González (Arguing with an opponent)
- 34’ 2T – Diego Funes (Unsporting behavior)
- 35’ 2T – Agustín Rufinetti (Delay of game)
- 36’ 2T – Yonathan Maciel (Unsporting behavior)
- 45’ 2T – Ezequiel Navarro (Unsporting behavior)
River Plate will look to build on this success as they aim for further glory in the competition.