On Friday, River Plate returned to winning ways. They pummeled Gimnasia La Plata 3-0 in the Argentine Primera Division Apertura tournament. This amazing win turned out to be the turning point for Marcelo Gallardo’s side. It finally snapped their maddening run of four straight ties. The game was a testament to River Plate’s toughness and grit as they fought to create a buffer at the top of the table.
The match played out at Gimnasia’s home stadium. Seeing the clock tick away, the hosts battled back desperately to grab at least one consolation tackler with their last breath. River Plate’s goalkeeper Franco Armani displayed remarkable skill, thwarting a late attempt from Nicolas Garayalde that could have changed the game’s momentum.
Dominance in the First Half
At the beginning, River Plate struggled to penetrate Gimnasia’s compact defense. Despite their struggles, the breakthrough came just 10 minutes before halftime when Sebastian Driussi found the back of the net with a close-range strike. This target further motivated the players of River Plate and lifted their morale. It was a precursor to the more belligerent second half.
Driussi, who was a key figure from start to finish, told media that he was relieved and happy after finding the back of the net.
“It’s always nice to score with this shirt, I think there were many games where I didn’t score and luckily we scored three goals.” – Sebastian Driussi
His confidence was contagious at times, and as his team came out for the second half you could tell they were already inspired by their coach’s energy.
A Strong Second Half Performance
After the break, River Plate picked up right where they left off and really ran with their momentum. Driussi played the second assist, his pass feeding Franco Mastantuono, who coolly doubled River’s lead just after the half hour mark. This goal demonstrated River Plate’s attacking prowess, as they began to exploit gaps in Gimnasia’s defense.
With only eight minutes remaining in the game, Brazilian Rodrigo Aliendro made his presence felt with the match-winner. He capped River Plate’s win by cementing their third goal. The total victory awash with River Plate’s ability to come through with the goods when it matters most and their promise for a bigger match ahead.
Driussi noted the importance of this victory for the team’s morale:
“We focused more, we had been working well but we were always missing that last bit of space to score. The victory fills us with confidence.” – Sebastian Driussi
Current Standings and Upcoming Matches
Following the convincing victory, River Plate has jumped to third place in Group B with 25 points. On the other hand, Gimnasia currently find themselves in 12th with only 13 points. River Plate’s next tough assignment comes on Wednesday, where they’ll face Ecuadorian side Independiente del Valle in the Copa Libertadores. On that front, it’s worth noting that supporters are salivating at the prospect of an Argentine derby with Boca Juniors on April 27.
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