River is still alive in the Apertura Tournament. After barely drawing 2-2 in extra time, the Millionaire won 4-3 on penalties against a San Lorenzo that played with one less player for almost the entire match and qualified for the quarter-finals.
In the first few minutes, the home team would control the ball and have some approaches to Orlando Gil's area, but without effectiveness, while the visitors relied on their defense and on making long passes or quick touches from the back.
The first truly clear chance of the match would come for the team managed by Eduardo Coudet at 25, with a low shot from Fausto Vera from the left corner of the area that Gil would deflect to the corner with a notable stretch. Just 2 minutes later, the Ciclón would receive bad news, as Matías Reali, after a VAR review, would be sent off for a kick on Tomás Galván.
With an extra player, the Banda started to get more adventurous in attack; however, the Cuervo would be the one to strike first in the match. At 36, Nahuel Barrios would deliver a great cross to the head of Rodrigo Auzmendi, who would push it in at the edge of the small area, leaving Santiago Beltrán with no chance for the 0-1 for San Lorenzo.
In need of finding the equalizer, River continued to generate danger. Towards the end, they would have a clear chance at the feet of Galván, who, after a poor clearance from Mathías De Ritis, would find the ball served in the middle of the area and shoot unmarked, but the ball would kiss the right post of Gil.
In the second half, Chacho Coudet would make the first substitution of the classic: Maximiliano Meza for Juan Fernando Quintero, who would inherit the captain's armband from Lucas Martínez Quarta. Although the Millionaire would gain a bit more offensive presence, it would be San Lorenzo who would have the opportunity to change the score with a wayward shot from Auzmendi that Beltrán barely managed to save with a swipe.
Later, the home team would achieve the long-awaited equalizer at 55 minutes thanks to one of their standout players of the night. Marcos Acuña would create a great combination with Quintero, who, with a precise cross, would return it to him in the area for the left-back, without touching the ground, to take a cross shot to make it 1-1.
Following the goal, River would find a bit of calm and maintain their offensive plans to turn the game around. Meanwhile, both teams would make substitutions: Maximiliano Salas, Ian Subiabre, and later Kendry Páez for Facundo Colidio, Tomás Galván, and Fausto Vera in the Millionaire; and Facundo Gulli, Nacho Perruzzi, and then Fabricio López for Barrios, Juan Cruz Rattaliano, and Nicolás Tripichio in the Cuervo.
Only at 82, the Núñez team would have two new clear opportunities. First, Juanfer would have a long-range shot that, due to a deflection, dropped abruptly and almost went in on Gil, and shortly after Salas would have a shot that hit the post, although the play would be ruled out for a prior foul.
Towards the end, Quintero would send a cross to Martínez Quarta, who came close to making it 2-1 with a header that went just past the right post of Gil. With not many more notable actions, the match would go to extra time.
As soon as extra time began, Aníbal Moreno would receive a yellow card for a foul on Facundo Gulli. From the resulting foul, Gulli himself would take the free kick and send a cross into the area that would fall to Fabricio López, who would head it to put San Lorenzo back in front.
Although River would continue trying to score another goal, the defense, led by Jhohan Romaña and goalkeeper Gil denied all chances of a comeback. Near the end of the first 15 minutes, Ian Subiabre would make a great play in the area, but when he shot at goal, it would go very high.
At 107, Martínez Quarta came close to scoring, but Romaña cleared it off the line, although the play would not count anyway due to a prior offside. Again for offside, the referee would later disallow a headed goal from Gonzalo Montiel.
