River Plate beat Rosario Central 1-0 in a thriller, reach Apertura final | OneFootball

River Plate defeated Rosario Central 1-0 and qualified for the Torneo Apertura final. In a packed Estadio Monumental, the Millonario managed to beat the Canalla with a penalty goal by Facundo Colidio. Gonzalo Montiel missed a spot kick in the first half. Eduardo Chacho Coudet’s team will play the final on May 24 in Córdoba against Argentinos Juniors or Belgrano. Referee Nicolás Ramírez delivered an impeccable performance despite the pressure he allegedly received before the match from some AFA officials to favor the visiting side.

The Núñez side set the tone in the first half, which was marked by constant stoppages and physical play in midfield. Through possession and suffocating pressure when winning the ball back, it neutralized Jorge Almirón’s team, which had clear problems getting past midfield.

Sebastián Driussi took a hard challenge to his right knee from Franco Ibarra and left the field in tears. River had the chance to go ahead from the penalty spot around the half-hour mark. Gastón Ávila struck Lucas Martínez Quarta in the face with an elbow and, after a VAR review by Nicolás Ramírez, Jeremías Ledesma saved Gonzalo Montiel’s shot.

The start of the second half unfolded in the same way. River went ahead in the 16th minute after Ledesma fouled Joaquín Freitas in the box. Facundo Colidio took the penalty and made it 1-0 with a shot inside the right post. The Canalla changed its approach and from then on leveled the contest by playing with greater intensity: it hit the post twice, the first of those after a fine save by Santiago Beltrán. However, the Millonario held off the late surge and secured its place in the final.

The clash between River and Central had begun several days earlier with a heated buildup. The exchange between Diego Milito and Di María served as the trigger due to controversial refereeing decisions in the quarterfinals.

The other finalist will come from Argentinos Juniors and Belgrano de Córdoba, who will face each other on Sunday starting at 5:00 p.m. in La Paternal. The Torneo Apertura final will be on May 24 at 3:30 p.m. at Córdoba’s Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes.

River’s next match will be on Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. against RB Bragantino of Brazil at the Monumental, with the aim of sealing its qualification in the Copa Sudamericana. Rosario Central, on the same day from 7:00 p.m., will host at the Gigante de Arroyito

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.