Moment Vitor Roque returns the advantage to Palmeiras (El Gráfico)
River Plate said goodbye to the 2025 Copa Libertadores in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, September 24, after suffering a painful series against Brazil's Palmeiras. The overall score of 5-2 in favor of Verdao sealed the elimination at Allianz Parque in São Paulo, where two goals in the final minutes broke the hearts of the millionaires' fans. This defeat not only hurts because of the result but also because it revives the pain of past encounters and raises doubts about Marcelo Gallardo's continuity.
The return match was an electrifying back-and-forth. River arrived with the obligation to overturn the 2-1 deficit from the first leg at Monumental, where Palmeiras had struck first with goals from Gustavo Gómez and Vitor Roque, and only a missile from Lucas Martínez Quarta at the end had kept hope alive.
In São Paulo, the Millionaire scored early: in the 7th minute, a header from Maximiliano Salas after a cross from Juanfer Quintero equalized the series and ignited hope. Palmeiras reacted quickly, and in the second half, Vitor Roque appeared again for the equalizer in the 51st minute, after a rebound that Armani could not contain.
Tension grew with the expulsion of Marcos Acuña, who committed a penalty that José López converted into a goal in the final moments. Two minutes later, he sealed the series with a fantastic goal from outside the box for the definitive 3-1.
River, which had shown defiance and ambition, ended up overwhelmed by Brazilian effectiveness. Allianz Parque was a cauldron, and Abel Ferreira's team celebrated with their fans the passage to the semifinals.
River's campaign in this Libertadores had been irregular but gave hope to the millionaires' fans. Leading their group with victories against tough opponents, they advanced with authority to the round of 16. However, the series with Palmeiras exposed the flaws: defensive mistakes at key moments, a red card that conditioned the game, and lack of effectiveness in the final stretch.
Gallardo opted for an offensive scheme that worked at times, but it wasn't enough against the Brazilian solidity. “It hurts in the soul. We gave everything, but football is that cruel,” said El Muñeco post-match, visibly moved.
Palmeiras, for its part, reaches the semifinals with high morale. They had already eliminated other Argentinians in past editions, and on social media, they celebrated with irony: a post with the phrase “Same final,” referring to the old encounters with River. The São Paulo team, with its mix of experience and youth, stands out as a strong candidate for the two-time championship.
Should Gallardo continue at River?
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