The draw leaves River better, but not everything is decided in the final of the Copa Libertadores (Sportiva, Japón)

It is often said among Argentine football fans that La Bombonera (because of its closed architecture resembles an enormous box of chocolates) of Boca Juniors “beats”, because when people jump, the foundations are moved, even the field where the players are.

In Argentina, football is much more than a sport. It is such a special passion that the Cardiology Society had warned against possible heart attacks and the country’s president, Mauricio Macri (who was former president of Boca between 1995 and 2007) talked about the game during almost all the previous days, and even said that River coach Marcelo Gallardo “is a lucky guy, but this time it’s our turn”.

With a packed stadium and a giant expectation because Boca and River Plate have a rivalry of more than a century (something like a Champions League final between Real Madrid and Barcelona), but had never played for a Copa Libertadores final in South America, this “Superclásico” to double match (go and retourn), could gather all the elements so that the cocktail has resulted, beyond the draw 2-2, a very intense show, and with the changing result.

The Conmebol (South American Football Confederation) had to wait until the last 

edition (the 59th) with this format (the second final will be on Saturday, November 24, 

at the River Plate Monumental, where the Argentine national team was crowned world 

champion in 1978) because from 2019 the final will be played in a single match and

will be in Santiago de Chile.

Boca came better than River if you take into account the way to the final, after 

eliminating without major problems two strong teams from Brazil as Cruzeiro in the

quarterfinals and especially Palmeiras (about to be champion of his country) in the

semifinals, but River had won to Boca the three matches of the year, and all 2-0, 

among them, in March, the final of the Argentine Supercup, and this gave this club a

psychological advantage.

Gallardo, a great strategist, suspended to enter the field with the team for being late to

the second half in the semifinal match against Gremio, surprised with something 

unusual: a line of five defenders, knowing that his team would play in a very

unfavorable scenario, because for the 327 killed by violence, since 2013 only played

with fans of the local team.

With this idea, and with a midfield composed by the World Cup player Enzo Pérez, the

promising Exequiel Palacios (on the verge of being transferred to Real Madrid), the 

talented Gonzalo Martínez and the late forward Lucas Pratto, leaving only in the attack

the Colombian Santos Borré, everything indicated that River would go to defend itself

in the Bombonera.

But it was not the case. The players of Boca felt the pressure of having to get a result

at home to go more calm to the rematch, and River circulated the ball much better and

exercised that psychological dominance over his rival as in the whole year.

However, the least expected protagonist appeared, Agustín Rossi, the goalkeeper of 

Boca, who covered three clear chances of goal and showed a certainty that the fans did

not know. Barely months had passed since the group stage, Rossi, still very young 

(23 years), committed serious errors in the match against Palmeiras in Buenos Aires, 

the only one that Boca lost in this Cup, and was he whistled by his own fans.

That generated insecurity in his game, added to the permanent rumor from the press 

about that Boca was going to hire another goalkeeper. First it was named Gigi Buffon

because of his friendship with Carlos Tévez since the time of Juventus, but in the end, 

Esteban Andrada arrived, whom quickly won his place. However, chance plays out in

life and in the quarterfinals, Cruzeiro’s Dede defender jumped to head and hit the new

keeper’s jaw, and coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto had to rely on Rossi again, 

Boca could register the Bolivian Carlos Lampe, just in case.

And Rossi was fundamental so that Boca was not defeated in the first half, beyond that

it is a team that does not play well, does not have a clear idea of play, but instead, has a

tremendous power of goal in its two strikers, Ramón “Wanchope” Ábila and Darío Benedetto.

So it was that Boca took the lead, but failed to celebrate that River drowed him to the

next play for his great forward (although he played a little more delayed) Lucas Pratto,

and although in the last play of the first half Benedetto was again unleveled, fifteen

minutes later River returned to draw with an auto-goal of the central defender Carlos

Izquierdoz.

In the last half hour of the game, the experienced Carlos Tévez (34) entered to give

Boca more volume of play, some creativity, and it was precisely thanks to a play of him

that Benedetto had the great chance in the last play, to be left alone against Franco

Armani, but the River goalkeeper could cover the shot at goal with his whole body.

Now, millions of Argentines will have two weeks of rest until the rematch. In case of a

tie, there will be an extension of thirty minutes and even the possibility of penalties if

equality persists. River has an advantage although the visitors goal is not worth double. 

Boca is undefeated as a visitor in this Cup. It is not all said yet.