While the overall crowd was smaller than the Sounders crowd 48 hours earlier, the supporters from the J-League side Urawa Red Diamonds and the Argentine side River Plate were boisterous and loud. The noise had an apparent effect on both teams as they started on the front foot as soon as the whistle blew.
HIGH PRESS
With both sides employing a high press, the game started with a frantic pace. River Plate attacked from its left flank, with midfielder Enzo Perez playing the role of puppeteer, feeding the ball to Facundo Colidio, Kevin Castano, wonder kid Franco Mastantuono, and facilitating overlap runs by fullback Marcus Acuna. The Argentine’s first real good chance came in the 8th minute, when Sebastian Driussi found space in the Red Diamonds’ goal box and manufactured a shot that beat goalkeeper Nishikawa.
Drussi’s exquisite shot could not beat the left post and ricocheted back onto the pitch. The shot unnerved the Red Diamonds, who had been playing a stifling 4-2-3-1 defense that was bent on clogging the middle and pushing River Plate to the outside flanks. “ They played a good game and would not allow us to go inside,” said River Plate coach Marcelo Gallardo in his post-game press conference.“ We were a bit nervous at the start, he added.”
FINDING SPACE TO OPERATE
River Plate continued to attack from both flanks, and the determined effort paid dividends in the 11th minute. Real Madrid-bound Mastantuono carried the ball through the middle of Red Diamonds’ defense and quickly laid it off to an overlapping Acuna, who crossed the ball to a poaching Colidio, who headed the ball past the hapless Nishikawa. Before the tournament began, Mastantuono signed a six-year deal, and River Plate was paid a ¢63.2 million ( $72.6 million )
Rather than hunt for a second goal, River Plate backed off and allowed the Red Diamonds to dominate the possession battle. The Red Diamonds had decent half-chances but were never able to manufacture a serious chance against a stubborn River Plate defense that stayed disciplined and compacted.
The J-League sides’ best chance came on the 30th. Ryoma Wantanabe was fouled by River Plate’s Franco Mastantuono 25 yards from goal. Striker Marius Hoibraten headed the cross pass to River Plate Keeper Franco Armani. Hoibraten was ruled offside, and the goal was disallowed. As a result, the Argentinian side went into the halftime break with a 1-0 lead.
PHOTO GALLERY BY FRANCINE SCOTT
RIVER PLATE SCORES ON A BLUNDER
River Plate doubled its lead three minutes into the second half when Red Diamonds fullback Marius Hoibraten’s intended back header pass to Nishikawa was intercepted by Driussi, who scored but was injured on the play. Migule Borja replaced Drisussi. Down two goals, the Red Diamonds intensified their high press and the pace at which they moved the ball around the pitch. The strategy paid off in the 58th minute when Takuro Kaneko was fouled in the penalty area by Acuna. Yusuke Matsuo converted the spot kick, and the Red Diamonds were back in the game, down 2-1 with 32 minutes to go.
MOMENTUM SNAPPED
The goal gave life to the Red Diamonds, who continued to attack and had River Plate on its back heels. Just like in the first half, River Plate stayed resolute when defending and put the game to bed in the 73rd minute. Acuna collected his second assist of the match on River Plate’s third goal. Acuna’s corner kick cross was headed home by second-half sub Maximiliano Meza. River Plate dominated the battle of possession for the rest of the way and earned a vital three points in their opening Group Stage match.
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