River Plate 2-0 Cerro Porteno: Libertadores holders poised for semis
Sacha Pisani
August 23, 2019 01:15 MYT
August 23, 2019 01:15 MYT
Copa Libertadores champions River Plate took a giant step towards the semi-finals after claiming a 2-0 win over Cerro Porteno in the first leg of their quarter-final tie.
Ignacio Fernandez and Rafael Borre both scored penalties in each half to lead River past Paraguayan visitors Cerro Porteno in Buenos Aires on Thursday.
River – seeking back-to-back Libertadores titles after upstaging bitter rivals Boca Juniors in last year's final – took the lead thanks to a VAR review in the eighth minute.
After reviewing a handball against Joaquin Larrivey in the penalty area, Fernandez eventually stepped up to convert the spot-kick following Cerro Porteno protests.
¡FINAL DEL PARTIDO! River ganó por 2 - 0 a Cerro Porteño. La serie se definirá el jueves que viene en Paraguay.#VamosRiver pic.twitter.com/bHdqSw2tm0 — River Plate (@RiverPlate) August 23, 2019
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River forward Borre made it 2-0 for the Argentine giants with a penalty of his own in the 65th minute.
After having a goal ruled out 12 minutes earlier following a foul in the build-up, Borre made no mistake from the spot.
River will travel to Cerro Porteno for the return leg on August 29, with a potential semi-final against Boca awaiting the Libertadores holders.