Goals Galore
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Facundo Colidio opened the scoring in the 12th minute, nodding home a precise Marcos Acuña cross.
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Early in the second half, Sebastián Driussi doubled the lead by slotting the ball into an empty net after a defensive error.
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Despite Driussi being forced off injured soon after, Yusuke Matsuo pulled one back for Urawa via a penalty in the 58th minute.
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River sealed the victory in the 73rd minute, when Maxi Meza headed in from another Acuña corner—his second assist of the evening.
Coach and Atmosphere
Manager Marcelo Gallardo praised the result but noted room for improvement: “It's a tough game, we were effective and intense, but we must keep working”. He also voiced concerns over low attendance (~12,000), travel issues, and subpar pitch conditions at Lumen Field. Driussi’s injury—a suspected ankle sprain—adds uncertainty, pending further scans.
What It Means
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River Plate are momentarily top of Group E, ahead of Monterrey and Inter Milan, and next face Monterrey on Saturday.
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Urawa must bounce back quickly—in their next game against Inter Milan—to keep alive hopes of progressing.
Despite concerns off the field, River Plate’s clinical performance and Marcos Acuña’s playmaking laid a solid foundation. Now, fans await further showdowns in this highly competitive group.
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