River Plate ease into Argentine quarters after 3-0 win over Barracas
BUENOS AIRES : River Plate secured their place in the quarter-finals of the Argentine Apertura tournament on Monday with a 3-0 home win over Barracas Central at the Mas Monumental stadium.
Paulo Diaz gave River an early advantage when he fired home from close range in the 12th minute and they doubled their lead two minutes before the break when Franco Mastantuono set up Ignacio Fernandez to score.
Fernandez said he was glad to be back in the side.
'I was back as a starter, and I took it in stride, eager to keep improving,' told TNT. 'No one likes to be out, but when it's my turn, I try to do my part and make the most of the moment.
'We know that sometimes it's your turn and sometimes it's not but you have to stick with it and support the team because, at the end of the day, if one person does well everyone does well,' he added.
Marcelo Gallardo's side continued to dominate after the break and thought they had scored the third when Mastantuono set up Fabricio Bustos following a swift counter-attack.
However, the goal was disallowed following a VAR review due to a foul by Kevin Castano on Barracas midfielder Dardo Miloc.
'I think Kevin got the ball back well and Miloc let himself fall, lost the ball and stayed there protesting,' River midfielder Enzo Perez said.
'The referee made the decision and I told him it was a clean challenge and that we got the ball back, but these are quick decisions and there's nothing you can do about it.'
Next it was Barracas' turn to have a goal ruled out when Facundo Bruera headed in Rodrigo Insua's free kick but it was called back for offside.
Marcos Acuna finally added River's third with a superb long-range shot in the closing minutes to set up a meeting with Platense in the next round.
Witness football history in Malaysia as Manchester United take on the Asean All-Stars – it's the clash you can't afford to miss.
Book your seat now at myticketempire.com/manumy before they're gone!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
7 hours ago
- Malay Mail
New Gunner Gyokeres could debut against Tottenham in Hong Kong
HONG KONG, July 31 — Viktor Gyokeres could make his Arsenal debut in the cauldron of a north London derby this week in front of 50,000 Hong Kong fans, manager Mikel Arteta said on Wednesday. The US$67 million (RM285 million) Swedish striker came through an open training session at Kai Tak stadium, where Arsenal will take on Tottenham on Thursday in the bitter rivals' first clash outside of the UK. Gyokeres joined up with Arsenal on their Asia tour only three days ago, after signing from Sporting Lisbon, but will get some time on the pitch if the club medical team think he is ready, said Arteta. He is playing fitness catch-up with his new teammates, though, who came through pre-season friendlies in Singapore last week against AC Milan and Newcastle. 'Yes, I understand he's only done today's session and yesterday, very little,' Arteta told reporters. 'We're going to assess tonight how he is, if the medical staff are happy as well with his condition to participate tomorrow night, it's a possibility. 'With the rest of the squad, everybody is OK.' The 27-year-old Gyokeres fired Sporting to the Portuguese championship last season with 39 goals and made global headlines when he netted a Champions League hat-trick against Manchester City. The striker, who has chosen to wear the number 14 shirt made famous by Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, scored a remarkable 97 goals in 102 matches for the Portuguese side. He has joined Arsenal on a five-year deal which could cost the north London club up to US$89 million with performance-related add-ons. His arrival took Arsenal's close-season spending to around US$267 million. They have also signed defender Cristhian Mosquera, midfielder Martin Zubimendi, goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, midfielder Christian Norgaard and forward Noni Madueke. Arteta was clearly pleased at the business the club has carried out in the transfer window so far, as he seeks to be the first Arsenal manager to win the Premier League since Arsene Wenger in the 2003/04 season. 'I am extremely happy with the way that we have approached the window and how aggressive we've been,' said Arteta, who has finished runner-up in the Premier League for the past three seasons. Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard said he was excited to play with his fellow Scandinavian, Gyokeres, calling him 'a very complete' player. 'I think you've all seen what he's done in his career so far, especially the last season at Sporting, and the numbers speak for themselves,' Norwegian international Odegaard said. 'You know, he's physical, strong, fast, good finisher and intelligent as well. 'So I think he's a very complete striker,' said Odegaard. 'Really excited to have him with the team. And he's only trained a few times, but you can already see the quality and the energy and the willingness.' — AFP
Free Malaysia Today
10 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Fernandes double as Man Utd sink West Ham in Premier League US friendly
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes in action during the match. (EPA Images pic) NEW YORK : Bruno Fernandes scored twice as Manchester United kicked off their tour of the US with a 2-1 win over West Ham in the Premier League Summer Series tournament in New Jersey on Saturday. United skipper Fernandes punished two blunders by West Ham's France international goalkeeper Alphonse Areola to seal victory for Ruben Amorim's side in sweltering conditions at the MetLife Stadium. Areola was at fault for both of United's goals and although Jarrod Bowen pulled a goal back for the Hammers, the London club never seriously troubled the 13-time Premier League champions. Fernandes opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the fifth minute, calmly sending Areola the wrong way after the Frenchman had needlessly shoved Ayden Heaven to the ground after losing possession. Fernandes doubled United's lead in the 52nd minute with a clever finish after another howler from Areola, whose sloppy pass out from the back went straight to United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo on the edge of the area. Mainoo slipped a pass to Fernandes, who then coolly lifted a finish over the stranded Areola to put United in control. Bowen's clever finish in the 63rd minute reduced the deficit, and the England forward forced a good save from Altay Bayindir in injury time, but United held on. 'It's good to win, even being a friendly – we want to get every game to prepare ourselves in the best way and obviously go into the season in a positive way,' Fernandes told NBC Sports after the victory. 'Overall the game was good, we were very good on the ball. In some moments we could have done longer possessions and we rushed it a little bit. We have to work on that… but I think overall it was a very good game for us.' United's new US$87 million signing Bryan Mbeumo travelled with the team to the US but did not feature in the matchday squad. Mbeumo could make his debut when United face Bournemouth in the second round of fixtures in the four-team tournament in Chicago on Wednesday. Bournemouth, meanwhile, cruised to a 3-0 victory over Everton in their opener earlier on Saturday at the same venue. Goals from Philip Billing, Dango Outtara and Daniel Adu-Adjei sealed a comfortable win for Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth side After a low-key first half, Billing fired Bournemouth into the lead in the 55th minute, gliding away from his marker at the edge of the area before unleashing a ferocious shot that flew past Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. England international Pickford was beaten again four minutes later after a move that began when Outtara surged clear down the left flank. Everton defender Nathan Patterson looked to have covered the danger, but a poor touch allowed Burkina Faso international Outtara to hammer a shot high into the net past Pickford's near post. Adu-Adjei made it 3-0 to the Cherries in the 69th minute, pouncing on an underhit backpass from Jake O'Brien to coolly finish past Pickford.
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Malay Mail
Colombia edge Argentina in shootout to reach Women's Copa America final
QUITO, July 29 — Colombia booked their spot in the Women's Copa America final on Monday after edging Argentina 5-4 in a nail-biting penalty shootout following a goalless semi-final. Goalkeeper Katherine Tapia saved Paulina Gramaglia's spot-kick to give Colombia the advantage but Mayra Ramirez then hit the crossbar to rekindle Argentina's hopes. Wendy Bonilla put away Colombia's sixth kick to pile the pressure on Eliana Stabile, who struck the bar to send Argentina crashing out. 'We are finalists and we qualified for the Olympics in Los Angeles, that was our objective. We are prepared for the final,' Tapia said after the match. Argentina started brightly with Florencia Bonsegundo and Yamila Rodriguez testing the Colombian defence, but keeper Tapia proved equal to the task with a string of crucial saves. Colombia gradually found their rhythm despite first-half injuries to players on both sides that disrupted the flow of play. Ramirez, Leicy Santos and Linda Caicedo created opportunities but failed to find the breakthrough. Colombia increased the pressure after halftime and came agonisingly close to taking the lead when Valerin Loboa's close-range effort looked destined for the net, only for Argentina goalkeeper Solana Pereyra to produce a brilliant save. The match marked the first use of VAR in the tournament, the technology available only from the knockout stages, when the referee reviewed an incident in the penalty area involving Sophia Braun and Manuela Pavi in stoppage time before ruling it was not a penalty. Colombia will face either Brazil or Uruguay, who meet in Tuesday's second semi-final. — Reuters
