After losing the home leg of its Copa Libertadores semifinal against Grêmio 1-0 in Buenos Aires, River Plate pulled off a shocking 2-1 reverse scoreline in Porto Alegre on Tuesday night to advance to the final of South America’s premier club competition on away goals. For River Plate, the late dramatics were pure delirium; for Grêmio, it was the cruelest of defeats.
Everything started brilliantly for the Brazilian club. In the 36th minute, Léo Gomes gave his side a 2-0 aggregate lead with a nicely taken half-volley from outside the 18. Arena do Grêmio lost it.
#Libertadores2018 Semifinal
Arena GrêmioLeonardo Gomes@Gremio x @CARPoficial #GRExRIV 1x0 (2x0)#LibertadoresFOXSports @FoxSportsBrasil pic.twitter.com/HFZz9BdbxL— Gols do Brasileirão (@GOLSBRASILEIRO) October 31, 2018
And Grêmio would later have a chance to bury the game with River Plate chasing its first, however, this is one they’ll rue.
¡Una atajada clave! Lo tuvo @Gremio en los pies de Everton pero Franco Armani le impidió el festejo. pic.twitter.com/XDAivGkNWe
— CONMEBOL Libertadores (@Libertadores) October 31, 2018
The advantage would last deep into the match, but the seemingly unassailable margin was finally halved in the 82nd minute by Colombian forward Rafael Santos Borré.
El gol que le devolvió la ilusión a @CARPoficial. @RafaelBorre_ puso el 1-1 parcial a los 81' de juego. pic.twitter.com/pVoaDzcUBd
— CONMEBOL Libertadores (@Libertadores) October 31, 2018
The header wasn’t without its bit of controversy.
Watching back Santos Borré's first goal tonight for River Plate, looks like he may have handled it to direct it towards goal. Certainly should have at least been looked at by VAR: pic.twitter.com/EDd04P0QqN
— Austin Miller (@austin_james906) October 31, 2018
Los Millonarios now needed just one more to advance, and the opportunity arrived in the 89th minute. The call wasn’t made on the pitch, but the VAR told the ref to take another look at this handball, and the ref duly pointed to the spot. Bressan was sent off for his second yellow.
PENAL! PENAL! PENAL! After Video Review, #River given a penalty for a handball by Bressan, who is also sent off with his 2nd yellow!!!
Absolute MADNESS in #CopaLibertadores semifinal!!! #GRExRIV #Libertadores2018 pic.twitter.com/FnTv2RLP7a— #ThankYouDeuce (@JogaBonito_USA) October 31, 2018
Pity Martinez — who will reportedly join Atlanta United in January — stepped up to bury the spot kick, which didn’t actually go down until the 95th minute.
Así fue el gol de Pity Martínez con el que @CARPoficial consiguió la clasificación a la final de la #CONMEBOLLibertadores.
¡Con sonido de ambiente! pic.twitter.com/MOPwTfZM9E— CONMEBOL Libertadores (@Libertadores) October 31, 2018
Ultimately, we would see 14 minutes of stoppage time before the final whistle. You can probably imagine how the home side treated the ref after that.
The referee crew had to be surrounded by phalanx of military police with shields and helmets, protecting them from furious #Gremio players after final whistle. Controversial #VAR decision for #River's late penalty winner.
— #ThankYouDeuce (@JogaBonito_USA) October 31, 2018
As wild as these scenes were, we might be turning it up to 11 on Nov. 7 and Nov. 28 (the dates of the final’s two legs). In the other semi, Boca Juniors is taking a two-goal lead to Palmeiras’ Allianz Parque in Sao Paulo on Wednesday night.
Should the final of the Libertadores turn into a Superclásico between Boca and River, well, I’m going to batten down the hatches immediately.
@CARPoficial ya tiene garantizado su lugar en la final de la #CONMEBOLLibertadores.
@BocaJrsOficial y @Palmeiras definen mañana el boleto hacia el partido por la #gloriaeterna. pic.twitter.com/yeMy8n49xM— CONMEBOL Libertadores (@Libertadores) October 31, 2018
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