River Plate secured a decisive 3-1 victory against Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds in their FIFA Club World Cup Group E opener at Seattle's Lumen Field on Tuesday, blending thrilling football with moments of tension. The Argentinian side showcased tactical precision, with Marcos Acuña delivering two assists and three different players finding the net.
Sebastian Driussi opened River Plate's second-half account with a clinical strike in the 48th minute but left the field injured after colliding with Urawa goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa. Coach Marcelo Gallardo confirmed post-match that Driussi's ankle injury requires further assessment, casting uncertainty over his tournament availability.
Facundo Colidio ignited the scoring early, heading home Acuña's cross in the 12th minute, while Maximiliano Meza sealed the win with a 73rd-minute header from Acuña's corner. Urawa's lone response came via Yusuke Matsuo's 58th-minute penalty, awarded after Takuro Kaneko drew a foul from Acuña.
Despite sparse attendance of 11,974 in the 68,740-seat stadium, both teams enjoyed vocal support. River Plate goalkeeper Franco Armani preserved the margin with a crucial late save against Thiago Santana, underscoring the South American champions' defensive resolve.
