| America edges River after sharing six goals |
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| Friday, 04 April 2008 | |
 MEXICO CITY (AP) - Mexico's America and Argentina's River Plate shared six goals in just 18 minutes, before America emerged as 4-3 winners in the Copa Libertadores on Wednesday. The win was enough for America to leapfrog River and go top of Group 5. Both teams have nine points, three ahead of Peru's San Martin and Chile's Universidad Catolica, with all teams having one more game to play. River needs only a home draw against San Martin to reach the round of 16. America will travel to Catolica knowing a draw will be enough, and can likely afford a narrow loss and still progress. River Plate went ahead 1-0 in the sixth minute through midfielder Rodrigo Archubi and held that lead until half time. Then came an explosion of goals between the 51st and 69th minutes. First, defender Rodrigo Inigo equalized for America, and then Enrique Esqueda made it 2-1 to the Mexicans. America defender Diego Cervantes gave away an own goal to make it 2-2, before he then scored at the right end to put the home team back in front. Veteran Uruguayan striker Sebastien Abreu again drew River level, only for Paraguayan striker Salvador Cabanas to score what proved the winner after an extaordinary succession of goals. "We knew it was going to be a tough match, they came ready to play, the main thing was to get the victory, to get the points and keep fighting in Libertadores," Cabanas said. "We needed the win to stay alive, we have to get up little by little, Catolica will be a tough match, we will try to win it." |
