River Plate rally, endure 14-minute injury time to beat Gremio for Copa Libertadores final

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:27 am

River Plate players celebrate advancing to the Copa Libertadores final.
River Plate players celebrate advancing to the Copa Libertadores final.
AP Photo/Andre Penner

PORTO ALEGRE -- River Plate reached the Copa Libertadores final on Tuesday after their 2-1 come-from-behind win at holders Gremio saw them go through on away goals.

River, who lost the first leg 1-0 at home, went a goal down against the run of play after 35 minutes when Leo Gomes put the Brazilians ahead.

The Buenos Aires side kept pushing forward, however, and Rafael Borre scored the equaliser with 81 minutes gone before the referee awarded them a penalty five minutes later after consulting with the video assistant referee (VAR).

Gonzalo Martinez converted after a long delay and a red card for Gremio's Bressan, and although the referee added 14 minutes of stoppage time the home side could not get another goal.

"We believed all the way until the final minutes, with faith and will to win," River's Javier Pinola said. "We deserved to win."

The remarkable victory sets up the possibility of an all-Argentine final against Boca Juniors, who play Palmeiras in Sao Paulo on Wednesday having won the home leg 2-0.