River Took a Giant Step in Ecuador Marcelo Gallardo’s team was very determining once again at the Libertadores: in Guayaquil, it defeated Emelec by 2-1 with goals scored by Jorge Moreira and Lucas Alario. Now it leads the Group with 9 points.

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After winning in Colombia against Deportivo Independiente Medellín and in Núñez against Melgar, and after its faux pas against Sarmiento at the Monumental Stadium, River Plate traveled to Ecuador to play its third game of the CONMEBOL Libertadores Cup.

The night in Ecuador did not start well: during the first two minutes, the local team scored a goal with a kick by Ayrton Preciado, who put the ball right next to Augusto Batalla’s left post. Nevertheless, River did not feel the punch and was the only team who tried to play in spite of the many fouls committed by Emelec.

Thus, River almost achieved the draw. Gonzalo Martínez tried to score a goal but goalkeeper Esteban Dreer stopped his kick. Then, Nacho Fernández tried from outside the area, and Milton Casco was close with a left kick after a prepared play.

Martínez shot a free kick and but it was close, and, at the end, Jorge Moreira scored the well-deserved draw: the Paraguayan received a bounce after a free kick and kicked a crossed shot from the right that hit a post and then went in the goal.

During the second half, River had two clear opportunities to score its second goal: a one on one that Lucas Alario could not define, and an unbeatable opportunity for Casco, who kicked a deflected shot from inside the area. Emelec also had its chances, but they were controlled perfectly by Augusto Batalla, both times with his feet.

The victory goal came after a shot by Camilo Mayada that the local goalkeeper stopped. When it bounced, Rodrigo Mora put the ball down for Alario, and this time the forward did not have mercy. He shot a low and precise kick to stamp the 2-1 and to declare River’s victory in Guayaquil.

With this win, River is the only leader of Group 3 with nine points out of nine games played, while DIM comes second, with six points and one more game.

SUMMARY

EMELEC: Esteban Dreer; Jordan Jaime, Fernando Pinillo, Óscar Bagüi; Byron Mina, Osbaldo Lastra, Pedro Quiñónez, Ayrton Preciado; Fernando Gaibor, Marlon de Jesús and Marcos Mondaini (C). COACH: Alfredo Arias.

Substitutes: Ayrton Morales, Christian Ramos, Carlos Moreno, Robert Burbano, Holger Matamoros, Bruno Vides and Bryan Angulo.

Substitutions: Vides for De Jesús, Burbano for Quiñónez, and Angulo for Bagüi.

RIVER PLATE: Augusto Batalla; Jorge Moreira, Jonatan Maidana, Lucas Martínez Quarta, Milton Casco; Ignacio Fernández, Leonardo Ponzio (C), Ariel Rojas, Gonzalo Martínez; Lucas Alario and Sebastián Driussi. COACH: Marcelo Gallardo.

Substitutes: Maximiliano Velazco, Luciano Lollo, Gonzalo Montiel, Iván Rossi, Camilo Mayada, Carlos Auzqui and Rodrigo Mora.

Substitutions: Mayada for Fernández, Mora for Martínez, and Rossi for Rojas.

Goals: Preciado (E); Moreira, Alario (RP).

Booked: Pinillo, Bagüi (E); Casco, Maidana, Moreira, Batalla (RP).

Referee: Roberto Tobar (Chile).

Assistant Referees: Marcelo Barraza and Edson Cisterna (Chile).

Fourth Official: Eduardo Gamboa (Chile).

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