Beltrán gets along well with Solari, who scores three and takes the ball.
There was no equivalence in the duel between Marcelo Gallardo and Sebastián Beccacece: the power and wisdom of one were more than the strategy and humility of the other. Thus, River beat Defense and Justice 4-0 and will play against Patronato in the quarter-finals.
The Copa Argentina is wonderful because it is really a federal and popular championship: the crowded stands of the Centenario stadium made it clear. Every game of River, Boca and almost all the clubs is a party that mobilizes and paralyzes the province that is visited. That’s why there have been camps for days in Chaco to get a ticket to see those headed by Marcelo Gallardo. Up to $ 15,000 was paid for a resale. “If we are lucky enough to go to the Monumentale, the journey plus the entrance does not go out any more or more”, explained the Chaqueños.
The match between River and Defense was presented as the duel between Gallardo and Beccacece, coaches with similar palates, and the logic and hierarchy of those led by the Doll prevailed over the desire and innovations presented by Becca. Núñez’s side were lined up with a 4-3-1-2, with Paulo Díaz as central defender, Juanfer Quintero as a hitch and Lucas Beltrán as a forward to accompany Pablo Solari. The Halcón thing was too slate and many of the players moved to inappropriate places: Nazareno Colombo, central defender by nature, was a right back; Nicolás Tripicchio, defender on the wing, was at the center of Kevin Gutiérrez’s side; Gabriel Alanis, played with a changed leg; Manuel Duarte, who moves as a midfielder on the wing, closes to cover Enzo Pérez. When the defense took office, Solari had already celebrated the first.
A special paragraph should be made for Solari di Cordoba. Everyone (journalists, fans, even leaders) believed that with the arrival of him River would acquire a wing per wing. But in a couple of games Gallardo transforms him and plays as a striker inside, as a companion to another striker in the area. The main feeling was that a new Ortega was appearing; after a couple of duels and goals, the confrontation with Julián Álvarez is not unreasonable. One fact: Solari’s goal last night (which he scored from the right between the legs of the goalkeeper, after a mini diagonal) was similar to the first scored by the Spider in Manchester City against Nottingham Forest in the Premier match.
River’s goal fell 3 minutes into the match, after a great comeback from Nicolás De la Cruz and a pass from Juanfer. The moments that followed were of a high standard for those led by the Doll, with high quality and highly effective passages. He was close to celebrating second with Aliendro and De la Cruz’s long shots.
Defense and Justice took 20 minutes to settle down. He managed to match the play from the push. He generated many corners (9) and one of them nearly scored with a header from Gutiérrez. Dangerous also with a run from Alanis that Herrera closes brilliantly and with a header from Colombo.
River lurked, pressing high and attacking directly. Beltrán was lucid in tackling a team in the game of his goal. It is true that De la Cruz’s overflow and back pass were key to the former Colón’s goal.
Armani did not come out to play the complement as a precaution (he collided with Herrera in the first half) and Ezequiel Centurión proved to be a good piece of change: he covered several and made an outstanding performance. Yes, the Defense deserved to score a goal.
It was enough for River to accelerate a couple of times to crush his rival. Solari had his night of glory and scored a hat-trick. The second culminated in a beautiful play by Beltrán; in the third he defined three fingers after a pure talent run by Enzo Pérez.
The river has won, beaten and appreciated; Gallardo prevailed by a wide margin in the duel of coaches, who did not cross or greet at any time. River passed the round, did his homework and found very high levels in some players. Surely that will be the best news for the Doll, who in 10 days will have to go to the Bombonera to face Boca. Did you find the team?
The goals of the match
Massimiliano Uria
Source: Clarin
