VÉLEZ SARCASMS RIVALRY SHINES AS FORTÍN DOMINATES RIVER IN A TENSE NATIONAL CUP CLASH
El Fortín surged to a convincing victory over River Plate at José Amalfitani, delivering a dramatic performance on the third matchday of the National Cup. The home side showed urgency from the opening whistle, pressing high and dictating the tempo, while River tallied limited chances and struggled to break through in hostile surroundings.
Across town, River Plate faced a similar setback on the third day of the League Cup 2023, as they were held to a 2-0 defeat by Vélez Sarsfield in Liners. The visitors could not find a way past Vélez’s organized defense when playing away from their home venue, echoing an early-season pattern for Martín Demichelis’s squad.
The match in Liniers evolved into a final-like duel, with Vélez leveraging relentless pressure across the pitch and a clear game plan aimed at controlling both tempo and space. Twenty minutes in, Claudio Aquino found the net after a precise long ball from Lautaro Gianetti, calmly finishing ahead of Franco Armani to open the scoring. The goal set a tone: Vélez would not back down and River would have to adjust quickly to a relentless, pressing foe.
During the late stages, Vélez maintained control and extended the lead courtesy of Santiago Castro, whose well-worked finish extended the advantage. The sequence underscored Vélez’s confidence as the match wore on, with the home side pressing high, exploiting wide areas, and finishing with clinical intent from the far post.
In the final half hour, River Plate offered little in response. The attacks were disjointed and sluggish, lacking cohesion and purpose, mirroring the sentiment from the opening moments of the game. The visitors registered just one of Núñez’s twelve attempts after the break, highlighting a need for reorganization and sharper decision-making in the final third.
GOALS, SUMMARY AND VIDEOS
- VÉLEZ GOAL! Santi Castro initiates a late-night liquidation of the contest, signaling Vélez’s intent to close out the affair.
- Franco Armani, again named in the starting lineup, restricts the deficit with a stellar save as the score remains 1-0.
- Impressive save from Franco Armani keeps River in the game amid Vélez’s growing pressure.
- Yellow card shown to Enzo Pérez, signaling a tense tactical battle on the field.
- VÉLEZ GOAL! Claudio Aquino opens the scoring on a damp evening in Liniers, delivering a crucial early advantage.
- The call from Demichelis’s bench signals a strategic shift as the visitors chase parity.
- How Vélez shapes its comeback tonight offers a glimpse into the home team’s disciplined approach across moments of high intensity.
STATISTICS
Source: Goal
Citation: Goal