El Millonario and El Cemento faced off in La Pedrera, delivering a modest clash that highlighted Otárola’s standout performance amid Chilean celebrations.
In La Pedrera de San Luis, River traveled to lose to Unión La Calera in a friendly that served as a duel of pre-season form. The two clubs were in the early stages of preparation, with Cement holding firm after a dramatic shootout where Fernando Otárola thwarted shots from Londoño, Alfonso, and Lucas Beltrán, leaving the Caeneros jubilant in Chilean fashion.
Both teams used the match to project into 2022 and beyond, with 2023 promising Libertadores involvement for Martín Demichelis’ Banda Sangre, while Cement aimed to bolster domestic results under Gerardo Ameli, who had replaced Federico Vilar. Though early adjustments were ongoing for both sides, Calera clung to the memory of controlling half an hour with ten men, while River, never fully clicking, drifted from efficiency to improvisation. The 4-1-3-2 with a midfielder on the left did not unlock a sophisticated rhythm against a refreshed ULC squad that signaled it would be a tough challenger for Chile in the year ahead.
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- GIANT OTÁROLA SHORTENED LUCAS BELTRÁN! LA CALERA WON 4-3 AGAINST RIVER ON PENALTIES!
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River ⚽️⚽️❌❌⚽️❌
Union La Calera ⚽️❌❌⚽️⚽️⚽️
Otarola saved Beltrán’s penalty. River could not compete against Unión La Calera in the San Luis friendly.
—River Plate
- IT SUCCEEDED! Juan Carlos Gaete placed it on the right post of Centurión in a memorable night’s finish.
- TARGET! Matías Suárez equalized with a powerful shot that rattled both teams.
- ACEVEDO AND A GREAT GOAL! A precise right-hand effort to narrow the angle for the 3×2 of the Chileans.
- AGAIN OTAROLA! River lost the lead after a misguided attempt from Alfonso that exposed the cement defense.
- GREAT PURPOSE! Juan Pablo Freytes equalized with a blistering left-foot strike toward the center.
- OTAROLA! Londoño Bedoya struck hard but central, standing out for the Cementera.
- CENTU! Moreno responded in a similar fashion to Flores, leaving River chasing the game as La Calera pressed forward.
- TARGET! Esequiel Barco’s shot slipped to Otárola but found the corner for a 2×1 advantage move.
- CENTURION SHORT! Patricio Flores delivered a nervy attempt and River held the edge.
- TARGET! José Paradela’s confident left-footed strike deceived Otárola and tied the score again.
- TARGET! Brayan Garrido opened for Calera with a precise inside-right finish.
- 97′ END! Calera equalized and the match moved to penalties in La Pedrera.
- 81′ Calera faced a line that pressed River, yet both teams showed fatigue and little sharpness.
- 62′ A debut for Mundo River: Londoño entered the fray.
- 61′ Alejo Antilef was sent off after a double caution by Rodrigo Aliendro.
- 46′ The second half started with Matías Suárez taking the armband for River.
- RIVER AND CALERA RESTED AT BLANCO! Enzo Pérez addressed his teammates before the locker room break.
- 28′ Calera suffered another blow as Cavalleri departed with an injury, Alejo Antilef replaced him.
- 21′ Aliento almost produced a goal on a quick counterattack for River.
- 16′ Pablo Solari’s shot clipped the post after a counter that promised more.
- 11′ Rodrigo Aliendro endured a heavy collision, leaving Matías Kranevitter momentarily unable to continue.
- 10′ Orellana tested the goalkeeper with a left-footed effort that skidded past the post.
- 1 THE MEETING BEGAN AFTER CAPTAINS ENZO PÉREZ AND ESTEBAN VALENCIA shook hands. Alfonso, Londoño, and Castro Ponce waited in River’s reserves.
- Pablo Echavarría refereed with Maximiliano of the Yesso and Sebastián Ranieri as assistants. River fielded a lineup including Franco Petronato and others while Demichelis confirmed the XI for the fixture.
In the second half, River lined up with Centurión, Rojas, Pirez, Peña Biafore, Gómez, Zuculini, Paradela, Aliendro, Barco, Suárez, and Beltrán, as announced by River Plate. La Calera presented an aligned squad and notable additions for the 2023 season.
Five hours after Ameli’s trial began, Fernando Otárola and Alejo Antilef were welcomed by the club community. The messages highlighted the group’s intent to compete strongly in the next phase of the pre-season. The official social channels marked the entries with celebratory posts for Otárola and Antilef, signaling a bright start to the Reintegration into the squad ahead of the new campaign.
The exchange captured the enthusiasm around Nacho Fernández returning home and the broader coaching staff’s vision for an aggressive, organized approach in the upcoming season.
Source: Goal