River Plate Fight Back To Win Copa Libertadores

John-Onivehu AndahDecember 10, 2018

River Plate players celebrate when they got a goal in extra-time (image courtesy Reuters)

River Plate have won the 2018 Copa Libertadores after Juan Quintero’s stunning extra-time strike helped them come from a goal down to record a historic win over 10-man Boca Juniors.

Quintero scored in the 109th minute of the second leg in Madrid before Gonzalo Martinez made it a 3-1 win on the night and a 5-3 win on aggregate.

The dramatic extra-time period had started with the sending off of Boca midfielder Wilmar Barrios for a second bookable offence – a two-footed challenge on Exequiel Palacios.

The match was moved more than 6,000 miles from Buenos Aires, in Argentina, to the Spanish capital after its postponement in November, when Boca’s team bus was attacked by River fans, causing injury to players and staff.