River Plate did their homework and defeated Urawa Red Diamonds 3-1, within the framework of the opening of Group E of the Club World Cup 2025. A duel that took place at Lumen Field and in which the Argentinians, with scores from Facundo Colidio, Sebastián Driussi and Maxi Meza, prevailed against the Japanese, who only managed to discount through a penalty courtesy of Yusuke Matsuo.
The balance tilted towards River Plate from the first half. Even, as early as the 9th minute, the 'millionaire' team gave its first threat in the match, with a shot from Sebastián Driussi that crashed into the crossbar of Nishikawa's goal. Some attempts to violate the rival goal that were going to bear fruit in the 12th minute.
There, the Argentinians were going to put the first score of the match, in a play in which Real Madrid's recent signing, Franco Mastantuono, participated to open the game towards the left side with Marcos Acuña, who placed a millimetric center for Facundo Colidio, in the heart of the area and arriving from the second line, to punish with a powerful header.
River imposed its law: A first half of almost absolute dominance
From there, the dominance of Marcelo Gallardo's team increased, in a combination of factors that left an Argentinian team managing possession of the ball and an Urawa Red Diamonds relegated to their own field, enduring the offensive onslaughts of River.
It was not until after the 30th minute that Urawa began to take some prominence. In fact, they even scored a goal in the 33rd minute, when Marius Høibråten resolved a cross into the area in great form. He did it in Van Persie style: with a spectacular flight and an accurate header. However, the goal was disallowed for offside.
A clear warning of the intentions of the Japanese team, which from there until the end of the first half took on a little more prominence, even demanding defensively from River. But they failed to translate it on the scoreboard, and that's how the first half ended: 1-0.
Unbelievable! Urawa 'gave away' the second goal to River
Already in the second half, the score would change very quickly. River made it 2-0 in the 48th minute, in an action that was a bit bizarre, if you will, the result of a chain of errors by the Japanese defense, especially the defender Høibråten.
With an ineffective clearance, the Norwegian headed the ball backwards and sent it into the area without noticing that Sebastián Driussi was behind. He took advantage of the fact that the goalkeeper could not clear with his fists clearly to push the ball into the back of the net with a header. A score that he could not celebrate with vigor, since the former Zenit striker was injured.
A penalty revived hope: Urawa discounted and put pressure
Urawa narrowed the gap in the 57th minute, after a penalty sanctioned for a foul by 'Huevo' Acuña on Takuro Kaneko inside the area. Matsuo was in charge of executing the penalty and transformed it into a goal with a crossed right-footed shot that beat Franco Armani, who lunged to the opposite side. Nothing to do for the Argentinian.
Meza seals the dream debut: lethal header for River's 3-1
When it seemed that Urawa could scratch the tie thanks to their courage, they received a real bucket of cold water. In the 72nd minute, Maxi Meza took advantage of a cross into the area and, with an accurate header, put the definitive 3-1 in favor of River.
Thus ended the match: with a River Plate that won with a score perhaps wider than what was seen on the field, against an Urawa that, although it had chances, could not transform them into scores in favor. Maciej Skorża's team took time to get into the match, but when they did, they managed to impose a rhythm that at times surpassed that of the 'millionaires', dominating certain sections of the match. However, they failed to do real damage or translate their momentum into goals.