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ESRiver loses friendly match in San Luis in the penalty shootout In San Luis, Martín Demichelis’s team drew 0-0 against Chile’s Unión La Calera in the 90 minutes, losing 4-3 in the penalty shootout.
Filled with the warmth and love from River Plate fans in San Luis, the La Pedrera Stadium was the venue where Martín Demichelis made his debut as coach of the River squad. In the friendly match against Unión La Calera, Demichelis chose different formations for each half, even though he was forced to make a change in the first half due to Matías Kranevitter’s injury (fracture in his right ankle). Furthermore, Emanuel Mammana didn’t play as a precaution.
In the first 45 minutes, River tried to dominate the match and had the clearest chances to score: first, Pablo Solari made a run up the left side, feinted right, and struck a right-footed shot towards Fernando Otárola’s near post; on another opportunity, Rodrigo Aliendro ran up the field, did a nutmeg, and struck a right-footed shot that almost went into the left corner of the rival goal. The rival team tried shooting crosses from the sides.
The second half had a similar dynamic, with good connections in the attack among José Paradela, Esequiel Barco, and Matías Suárez. River almost took the lead twice, following a thought-out play that Bruno Zuculini failed to turn into a goal in the rival's box and a header from Suárez off a corner kick. Unión La Calera warned with a shot from Francisco Salinas that was saved by Ezequiel Centurión.
In the penalty shootout, the Chilean team won by 4-3. Paradela, Barco, and Suárez scored their penalties for River, while Otárala saved the shots from Londoño, Alfonso, and Beltrán. Centurión had saved the shots from Flores and Moreno. The team will continue the preseason training and will play some friendlies in the US in January.
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