EN
ESRiver thrashes Betis in an emotional evening in Mendoza In what was Marcelo Gallardo's last match as manager and Javier Pinola’s farewell game, River thrashed Spain’s Betis 4-0 in Club Friendlies.
Before the 1st minute, Betis had a good chance to open the scoring: Borja Iglesias ran up the right-hand side and struck a crossed shot when Ezequiel Centurión came off his line, but Andrés Herrera managed to clear the ball before it went in. River responded with a few shots on goal from outside the box and the away team also had a few chances, such as a move by Aitor Ruibal that River’s keeper managed to block low.
Gallardo's team opened the scoring with a spectacular shot from Zuculini outside the box, who struck the ball in mid-air, sending it inside Dani Martín’s left goalpost. Then, following a cross from Herrera on the right-hand side, Montoya scored an own goal after being pressed by Zuculini. Toward the end of the first half, River had some chances to score the third goal: several at Pablo Solari’s feet and a medium-range shot from Agustin Palavecino.
In the 5th minute of the second half, Betis made a quick run upfield and Iglesias got face-to-face with Centurión; however, the keeper was quick to come off his line and save a shot from Betis’s No. 9. River widened the lead with a great goal from Miguel Borja: Herrera made an overlapping run and passed the ball to the Colombian player, who collected the ball, did a feint, and set the score at 3-0. River was comfortably dominating the match and Centurión made another save, this time on a header off a corner kick.
With 20 minutes left, playing on the right-hand side, Barco and Palavecino paired up so that Lucas Beltrán, who collected the ball by the far post, could skillfully score the fourth goal. River crowned a very emotional evening with goals. The stadium, filled with River Plate love, was the ideal scenario to see Gallardo as manager for the last time, bringing a glorious era to a close. The stadium also bid farewell to Pinola, who announced his retirement from professional football, receiving a standing ovation and warm praise from the fans.
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