📝 Grêmio 1-2 River Plate: River advance to Copa Libertadores final | OneFootball

River Plate are through to the Copa Libertadores final after an extremely dramatic 2-1 win over Grêmio in Porto Alegre.

Rafael Santos Borre and Pity Martinez each scored late goals to turn around a two-goal aggregate deficit and cancel out a spectacular volley from Leo Gomes.

River advanced on away goals after Grêmio won the first leg 1-0 in Buenos Aires last week.

The Argentines came out on the front foot and looked the stronger side early.

Exequiel Palacios was the catalyst in the first 30 minutes of the match and nearly leveled the tie in spectacular style just before the half-hour mark.

After a brilliant team move, the 20-year-old fizzed his shot just inches wide of the post.

Less than ten minutes later, Grêmio would take a commanding 2-0 aggregate lead.

Against the run of play, a really poor corner hit the first River player and deflected perfectly to the edge of the box for Leo Gomes, who sent a spectacular volley past Franco Armani.

The second half, as expected, was extremely scrappy and Grêmio took every opportunity they could to keep the clock running.

In spite of their time-wasting tactics, they had a couple good chances to put the tie out of reach.

In the 67th minute, Franco Armani kept River in the tie with a spectacular one-on-one save on Éverton.

In the 82nd minute, River made an important breakthrough to cut the aggregate lead to 2-1.

Rafael Santos Borré headed home Pity Martínez’s delicious free-kick to breathe new life into the tie.

Five minutes later, controversy ensued when a shot took a deflection out for a corner. After a lengthy VAR review, the referee awarded River a penalty after it was determined the ball hit the hand of Bressan.

Bressan was then given his second yellow card and was sent off. The Grêmio defender took massive exception to his expulsion and went after the referees, which required coaches, team-mates, and the police to remove him from the field.

After a lengthy delay that led to 14 minutes of stoppage time, Pity Martínez slotted home the penalty to put River Plate through to the Copa Libertadores final.

The referees left the field surrounded by riot police.

Palmeiras will host Boca Juniors in the other semi-final Wednesday. Boca lead 2-0 thanks to a brace from Dario Benedetto.

The Copa Libertadores final has never been an Argentine SuperClásico.