River Plate 2-0 Cerro Porteno: Libertadores holders poised for semis
Ignacio Fernandez and Rafael Borre both scored penalties to lead River Plate past Cerro Porteno in Buenos Aires on Thursday.
Copa Libertadores champions River Plate took a giant step towards the semi-finals after claiming a 2-0 win over Cerro Porteno in the first leg of their quarter-final tie.
Ignacio Fernandez and Rafael Borre both scored penalties in each half to lead River past Paraguayan visitors Cerro Porteno in Buenos Aires on Thursday.
River – seeking back-to-back Libertadores titles after upstaging bitter rivals Boca Juniors in last year's final – took the lead thanks to a VAR review in the eighth minute.
After reviewing a handball against Joaquin Larrivey in the penalty area, Fernandez eventually stepped up to convert the spot-kick following Cerro Porteno protests.
River forward Borre made it 2-0 for the Argentine giants with a penalty of his own in the 65th minute.
After having a goal ruled out 12 minutes earlier following a foul in the build-up, Borre made no mistake from the spot.
River will travel to Cerro Porteno for the return leg on August 29, with a potential semi-final against Boca awaiting the Libertadores holders.