A Relentless River Plate Scored in La Plata Marcelo Gallardo’s team showed superiority and bluntness: it defeated Gimnasia y Esgrima by 3-0 with goals by Driussi, Pity Martínez and Auzqui.

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During the first half, River played determined to own the match and it achieved it: it cornered Gimnasia with a clear idea, precise touches and perfect circulation. Thus, before the first five minutes of the match and after a warning by Leonardo Ponzio from outside the area, El Millonario scored the first goal.

A fantastic triangulation between Ignacio Fernánez, Lucas Alario and Sebastián Driussi allowed the latter to kick a shot that defeated Martín Arias’ defense. Then, River went for more: it had the second one at the feet of Alario and Driussi. However, Gimnasia did not hold back, recovered its place and made Augusto Batalla nervous.

River’s goalkeeper stopped kicks from Lucas Litch and Brahian Alemán, while Driussi could have scored the second goal after Alario assisted him, but the rival’s right post deflected the shot.

During the second half, the spirit of the first half was intact with a vertically offensive River. The second goal came after a great shot by Augusto Batalla, who left the ball ready for Gonzalo Martínez. He dodged two rival players and scored with his left in Arias’ right post. It was a fantastic goal.

River defined the match with that goal and continued to play simply through the sides, with short and accurate passes. Then, Carlos Auzqui, who had entered the match minutes earlier, paired with Alario. Estudiantes former player faced Arias in a one-on-one and defined gently by the right post.

Alario, one of the figures, could have scored his own goal, but the crossbar denied him a clear header after a center shot by Martínez from the left. In this way, El Millonario does not loose any steps, has the second place (with one game less) and this Thursday will close its participation in the group phase of Libertadores Cup against Deportivo Independiente Medellín.

SUMMARY 

GIMNASIA LA PLATA: Martín Arias; Ezequiel Bonifacio, Mauricio Romero, Manuel Guanini, Lucas Licht (C); Lorenzo Faravelli, Fabián Rinaudo, Sebastián Romero, Brahian Alemán; Erik Ramírez and Nicolás Mazzola. COACH: Leandro Martini - Mariano Messera.
Substitutes: Juan Pablo Noce, Maximiliano Coronel, Daniel Imperiale, Ramiro Carrera, Luciano Perdomo, Nicolás Contín and Nicolás Ibáñez.
Substitutions: Carrera for Faravelli, Contín for Mazzola, Ibáñez for Ramírez.

RIVER PLATE: Augusto Batalla; Jorge Moreira, Jonatan Maidana, Lucas Martínez Quarta, Camilo Mayada; Ignacio Fernández, Leonardo Ponzio (C), Ariel Rojas, Gonzalo Martínez; Lucas Alario and Sebastián Driussi. COACH: Marcelo Gallardo.
Substitutes: Maximiliano Velazco, Arturo Mina, Luciano Lollo, Nicolás Domingo, Joaquín Arzura, Tomás Andrade and Carlos Auzqui.
Substitutions: Auzqui for Fernández, Andrade for Driussi, Lollo for Maidana.

Goals: Driussi, Martínez, Auzqui (RP).

Booked: Faravelli, Bonifacio, Rinaudo, M. Romero, Alemán (G); Fernández, Moreira, Maidana (RP).

Referee: Federico Beligoy.
Assistant Referees: Iván Núñez and Diego Romero.
Fourth Official: Juan Pablo Pompei.