River Plate began their Club World Cup journey with a 3-1 win over Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds on Tuesday, thanks to goals from Facundo Colidio, Sebastián Driussi and Maxi Meza.
The Argentine giants took control early, breaking the deadlock in the 12th minute when Colidio nodded in a pinpoint cross from Marcos Acuña.
River doubled their lead just three minutes into the second half, as Driussi took advantage of a misjudged back-header from Marius Hoibraten, lobbing the ball over advancing goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa into an open net.
Driussi was forced off shortly after scoring due to an injury sustained in the lead-up. Urawa responded in the 58th minute, with Yusuke Matsuo calmly slotting home a penalty after Acuña was penalised for a foul in the box.
Urawa continued to press for an equaliser, but Meza sealed the win in the 73rd minute, heading in from an Acuña corner — the full-back’s second assist of the match.
River will next face Monterrey of Mexico on Saturday, while Urawa take on Champions League runners-up Inter Milan in Group E.
