River Plate win Bernabeu Copa Libertadores

RIVER PLATE won the Copa Libertadores by coming from behind to beat rivals Boca Juniors 3-1 in extra time of their controversially rearranged final in Madrid.

Juan Quintero all but settled a keenly fought encounter at the Bernabeu with a stunning strike after 109 minutes before Gonzalo Martinez broke away for a third, securing a 5-3 aggregate success, in the dying moments.

Boca had taken a firsthalf lead through Dario Benedetto but River hit back through Lucas Pratto and Boca’s hopes were badly hit after Wilmar Barrios was sent off early in extra-time.

River ended the match victorious but the saga of this final, postponed and moved to Spain after Boca’s team bus was attacked by rival fans in Buenos Aires, may not be over.

Boca failed to get the fixture suspended at the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Saturday but their attempts to have River disqualified could continue.

In a breathless passage of play, Boca goalkeeper Esteban Andrada gave away the ball but River failed to take advantage and Cristian Pavon released Dario Benedetto with a brilliant throughball.

Benedetto skipped over a challenge from Jonatan Maidana and showed great composure to beat Franco Armani.

River dominated the second half until Lucas Pratto swept home the equaliser after a fine move in the 68th minute.

River’s breakthrough came early in the second extra period. They pieced together a series of passes and Quintero struck with a ferocious shot from the edge of the area that went in off the underside of the bar.