CONMEBOL Libertadores - River won and qualified for the quarterfinals El Millionario played a great match against Athletico Paranaense, even though it only managed to define it near the end, with a goal by Nicolás De La Cruz. River’s next rival will be either Uruguay’s Nacional or Ecuador’s Independiente del Valle.

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After the tie reached towards the end of the match in Brazil, River went for the quarterfinal qualification in the Libertadores de América Stadium. Athletico Paranaense made the first threatening approach, testing Armani with a shot from a medium distance. El Millionario had the following two opportunities and Rafael Borré was the protagonist: in the first one, he couldn’t take advantage of it due to a rival mistake and, then, he fired a right-footed crossed shot that was saved by Bento.

Gonzalo Montiel also made it to the Brazilian team’s area several times and was close to opening the scoring in a few opportunities. Milton Casco also had his chance, by means of a left-footed shot that passed near the goalkeeper’s right goalpost. In one of the clearest opportunities, after an assist by Nacho Fernández, Matías Suárez escaped along the right side and his left-footed shot hit a goalpost after rebounding on Bento.

The away team threatened again with a header by Carlos Eduardo, but Armani was standing in the right place. The last opportunities of the first half were for Borré (he fired a high shot from outside the box) and Nicolás De La Cruz, with two attempts from afar that were controlled by Athletico Paranaense’s goalkeeper.

In the second half, River’s superiority was even greater. It created many goal opportunities, but Bento responded well every time. De La Cruz tried scoring off a free kick and Suárez almost scores a header after a center pass from Montiel, in addition to an approach by Robert Rojas. In a very clear opportunity, after a collective play, Suárez set up De La Cruz and the Uruguayan player, alone through the heart of the box, was not able to score.

Montiel, in one of his many attacking attempts, fired a good volley that went out of the field. Jorge Carrascal, who had come onto the field, was the maker of the play that led to Borre’s penalty shot. De La Cruz took the penalty: the ball hit a goalpost, rebounded on Bento then again on that same goalpost, and there came the goal, setting the score at 1-0.

Now, el Millionario waits for its rival for the next stage, that will be the winner of the match between Nacional and Independiente del Valle. In the first leg in Ecuador, they tied 0-0.

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