SEATTLE — In a compelling showdown at Lumen Field, River Plate triumphed over Urawa Red Diamonds in the Club World Cup, concluding the match with a 3-1 victory. Despite the win, River Plate faced a setback as their star player, Sebastian Driussi, was injured after scoring. Driussi’s pivotal goal came three minutes into the second half, extending the team’s lead to 2-0. However, the strike turned bittersweet as a collision with Urawa’s goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa left Driussi in pain, clutching his ankle. The forward was helped off the field and replaced by Miguel Borja, with further tests scheduled to assess the damage.
Coach Marcelo Gallardo expressed concern over the injury but praised the team’s overall performance. Facundo Colidio and Maximiliano Meza also contributed to the scoreboard for River Plate. In a moment of controversy, Urawa’s Yusuke Matsuo successfully converted a penalty kick following a foul by Marcos Acuña on Takuro Kaneko. The penalty was momentarily delayed due to tensions, which earned River Plate’s German Pezzella a yellow card.
Colidio opened the scoring with a decisive header in the 12th minute, following a precise cross from Acuña. Later, Meza reinstated River Plate’s two-goal cushion in the 73rd minute with a well-placed header also assisted by Acuña’s corner kick.
A significant play occurred in the 90th minute when River Plate’s goalkeeper, Franco Armani, made an essential save against a powerful shot from Urawa’s Thiago Santana, securing the team’s lead. Despite the vastness of Lumen Field with a capacity of 68,740, the match saw an attendance of 11,974, showcasing the dedicated support from fans of both teams present for the Club World Cup opener.
Reflecting on the game, Urawa Red Diamonds’ coach Maciej Skorza commended the loyal support from the fans, acknowledging their disappointment while emphasizing the team’s focus on improving in the forthcoming matches. River Plate’s player Colidio expressed elation over the victory and the team’s performance, emphasizing the importance of maintaining focus and momentum for the next challenges.