EN
ESBraces from Borja and Solari lead River to win against Colo-Colo In the first match of the three-way international tournament, River has won 4-3, after a very tough game in Viña del Mar. On Sunday, the team will play against Spain’s Betis in Mendoza.
The starting minutes of the match found Colo-Colo on a better footing, but it was River that took the lead before the 10th minute, thanks to an exquisite shot from Miguel Borja off an assist from Juanfer Quintero. Three minutes later, Pablo Solari took advantage of another great pass from the Colombian player and, with incredible ease, set the score at 2-0.
However, Colo-Colo didn’t take long to threaten River’s goal, with shots from Juan Lucero and Marco Rojas. The Chilean team reduced the deficit thanks to an own goal from Paulo Diaz. On the next play, Emiliano Amor set the score at 2-2 off a free kick from the right-hand side. Solari almost scored River’s third goal; however, Colo-Colo took the lead with a right-footed shot by Esteban Pavez, after taking advantage of a defensive lapse.
In the second half, River went for the draw and had a good chance on the 3rd minute: Esequiel Barco collected the ball, following a series of rebounds, but his shot aimed at Brayan Cortes’s goal was blocked. On another dangerous play, Solari struck a shot in mid-air from the right-hand side, but it deflected off Colo-Colo’s near post. Colo-Colo responded with a long-range shot from Pavez that smashed against the crossbar.
River made its way quickly up the field off a corner kick: Barco took the ball upfield, Solari tapped it to Quintero, who collected a rebound and, seeing No. 16 on his own, passed him the ball for him to score his second goal in Viña del Mar. Just like in the first half, on another burst, Borja tapped the ball into the net, off an assist from Solari, and River took the lead once again.
Gallardo's team was in control, with the game progressing smoothly, and eventually sealed the win in Viña del Mar. River will close its participation in the international tournament on Sunday, against Betis, at Malvinas Argentinas Stadium in Mendoza.
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