Lucas Alario, center back to camera, of Argentina’s River Plate…
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From relegation for the first time in the club’s 110-year history to winning South America’s most prestigious competition – and all in the space of four years.
Nineteen years ago Gallardo, who is now 39, was part of the team that won the club’s last Libertadores, but on Wednesday he had to manage his team from the stands after receiving a suspension following the first leg of the final which had ended in a 0-0 draw.
River had to overcome more difficulties in the semis.
Tigres fielded a weakened side in the Mexican league on Saturday, while the Argentine FA allowed River to postpone their scheduled encounter with Defensa y Justicia.
Once a River youth product and now a Tigres idol, Damian Alvarez also took pride from his side’s belief in fair play.
“So it will be different, the one who does it better, will win the game”. “We silenced a lot of people”, he said of their victory in Peru. “I don’t want to anticipate, let’s see after the match if we can celebrate”.
On 79 minutes, any faint hope of a miraculous Tigres fightback was snuffed out when Mori climbed high to meet Leonardo Pisculichi’s cross with a downward header to make it 3-0.
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That point rescued on time allowed River to reach the final round in which they defeated Bolovia’s San Jose, while Mexico’s Tigres provided additional assistance while defeating Juan Aurich 5-4. Their only reverse in those six matches was a 1-0 loss at home to Cruzeiro, a setback they avenged with a stunning 3-0 win in Belo Horizonte – a result which booked them a place at the Federation Internationale de Football Association Club World Cup Japan 2015. River Plate are now tied with Olimpia (Paraguay), Nacional (Uruguay), Sao Paulo and Santos (Brazil) with three titles in the competition each. We have to take advantage from the small goal opportunities that we’ll have.
