2015 Recopa Sudamericana

The 2015 Recopa Sudamericana was a football match played over two legs between San Lorenzo and River Plate of Argentina. The first leg was played at the Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires on 6 February 2015 and the second leg was played on 11 February 2015 at the Estadio Nuevo Gasómetro. The annual Recopa Sudamericana, it was contested between the winners of the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana. San Lorenzo were appearing in the competition for the second time after their loss in the 2003 edition, while River Plate reappeared for their third time after back-to-back losses in 1997 and 1998.

The teams qualified for the competition by winning the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana. River Plate won the 2014 Copa Sudamericana beating Colombian team Atlético Nacional 3–1 in the finals. San Lorenzo qualified by winning the 2014 Copa Libertadores. They beat Paraguayan team Club Nacional 2–1 in the finals.

Watched by a crowd of 64,000 at the Estadio Monumental, River Plate took the lead in the series courtesy of the lone goal late in the second half scored by Carlos Sánchez. A crowd of 40,000 observed the second leg at the Estadio Nuevo Gasómetro, in which the midfielder scored once again to yield his team another 1–0 victory. Thus, River Plate won the tie 2–0 on aggregate to secure their first Recopa Sudamericana triumph.

The Recopa Sudamericana was founded in the late 1980s, as a means to determine the best team in South America.^[3] It was first contested between the winners of the Copa Libertadores and the Supercopa Libertadores from 1989 to 1998, until CONMEBOL discontinued the latter. Following the absence of an important, secondary tournament, the Recopa Sudamericana went into a hiatus that lasted four years until the introduction of the Copa Sudamericana.^[4]

River Plate qualified for the match by winning the 2014 Copa Sudamericana. They beat Colombian team Atlético Nacional 3–1 in the finals. The result meant River Plate won the tournament for the first time, after a runner-up campaign earned in 2003.^[5] They were appearing in the Recopa Sudamericana for the third time after previous losses in 1997 and 1998.^[6]

San Lorenzo qualified for the competition as winners of the 2014 Copa Libertadores. They beat Paraguayan team Club Nacional 2–1 in the finals to win their first Copa Libertadores.^[7] It was the second time San Lorenzo would participate in the tournament after their defeat in the 2003 edition.^[6]

The first official game of the season for both teams was scheduled to be the first leg of the Recopa Sudamericana. San Lorenzo had last played Godoy Cruz in a 1–0 win on a pre-season friendly.^[8] River Plate's last game before the match ended in a 5–0 defeat against rivals Boca Juniors in the exhibition Copa Luis B. Nofal cup.^[9]

The first leg was held at the Estadio Monumental, the home ground of River Plate. San Lorenzo were close to opening the scoring early through Martín Cauteruccio, but the Uruguayan striker failed to control the ball when he was one-on-one with goalkeeper Marcelo Barovero. From there on out, the home side took control of the game.^[10] They started exerting pressure in the opposing field, and orchestrated their first chance at the 11-minute mark, when a cross from Rodrigo Mora found Teófilo Gutiérrez, whose header forced goalkeeper Sebastián Torrico into a save. From the subsequent corner kick, the Colombian striker sent the ball into the crossbar. Twenty minutes in, Mora sent another delivery over to Gutiérrez, who got denied by Torrico once again although heading the ball at close range. Further danger was funneled by River Plate through Leonardo Pisculichi. In the 36th minute, the attacking midfielder sent a corner into the San Lorenzo box, from which Gutiérrez rattled the crossbar with a bicycle kick. Two minutes later, another cross was sent after a set piece, being met by Jonatan Maidana, who unveiled a header into the left post.^[11] The home side had one last chance to open the scoring before half-time, but a Mora shot went wide.^[10]

Just a minute after the restart, Barovero seemed to tackle Cauteruccio inside the penalty area. However, referee Germán Delfino indicated to play on.^[10] Eight minutes later, the Uruguayan striker missed another one-on-one chance with the goalkeeper, after Pablo Barrientos had sorted the ball for him. River Plate continued to have opportunities, but they lacked depth in the attack. In response to this deficit, manager Marcelo Gallardo subbed Gonzalo Martínez in for striker Mora as to break the deadlock.^[11] The change made a difference when the attacking midfielder filtered the ball between the lines to Carlos Sánchez, who unleashed a powerful strike to score the solitary goal of the first leg.^[12] During the final minutes, Leandro Romagnoli lost his composure and fouled Leonel Vangioni with a disqualifying tackle, for which he received a straight red card.^[11]

River Plate came from an overwhelming defeat against rivals Boca Juniors in a friendly game a week prior. Gallardo replied to criticism stating: "Many things were said during the week, some justified, others not. You can't analyze one match and believe that this team is finished." Regarding the performance of his team, he stated: "There was a trophy at stake and the players responded. That gives me peace of mind. Our focus was on the start of the official competition, just as we had announced. Today we were back to our old ways."^[13]

River Plate's 1–0 victory in the first leg meant that San Lorenzo needed to score a goal to force the tie into extra-time. At the Estadio Nuevo Gasómetro, the home team started by applying high pressure, which yielded them two corner kicks in the first five minutes.^[15] They were forced into an early change when Franco Mussis injured himself and thus had to be replaced by fellow midfielder Facundo Quignon.^[16] The visitors eventually matched their showing to their opponents', and created the first clear opportunity of the game 18 minutes in, after Carlos Sánchez crossed for Teófilo Gutiérrez. The Colombian striker then laid the ball to Ariel Rojas, who sent another delivery over to Sánchez, whose shot went just wide of the goal. They had a follow up chance in the 29th minute, when a volley from Leonardo Pisculichi was also off the mark. San Lorenzo managed to respond by allowing their full-backs to design two of their best chances. In the 35th minute, a volley to the right post from centre-back Matías Caruzzo was deflected by goalkeeper Marcelo Barovero after Julio Buffarini broke down the right flank. Six minutes later, left-back Emmanuel Mas entered the penalty area and put a low cross for Sebastián Blanco, whose shot on net got blocked by Leonel Vangioni.^[15]

In the second half, San Lorenzo pressed forward from the start once more, and had two situations in quick succession through Martín Cauteruccio.^[15] Edgardo Bauza, manager for their side, brought in forwards Mauro Matos and Gonzalo Verón as to help in finding the equaliser.^[16] Nonetheless, River Plate would take the lead at the 22-minute mark. Following a team play, striker Rodrigo Mora controlled a cross from the right, preventing a goal kick.^[15] He then turned back swiftly as he passed the ball to Sánchez, who put a shot on net that took a deflection but ultimately went in.^[16] Three minutes later, San Lorenzo had two prospects in close succession, but they were both fended off by Barovero. The goalkeeper first stopped a bounced header from Matos, and he followed up shortly after by saving a Héctor Villalba shot with his chest.^[15] River Plate would also miss two chances to extend their lead, as Sebastián Torrico stepped up to save further efforts from Sánchez and subbed in Gonzalo Martínez.^[16] During the last ten minutes of the match, centre-back Ramiro Funes Mori was handed a straight red card for the visitors, while Buffarini was sent off in stoppage time, product of a second booking.^[15]

River Plate goalkeeper Marcelo Barovero was instrumental in the Recopa Sudamericana triumph. He addressed his team's last three games, acknowledging: "It's always good to win a title. What happened with Boca Juniors was sad [...] but the official season only started on Friday and it was important for us to win this match."^[17]

San Lorenzo's Edgardo Bauza also commented on the match, demonstrating content despite the loss: "We played better than in the previous game, as we had fewer mistakes with the ball and didn't allow [River Plate] to control the game. We created 12 chances, but failed to capitalize on them." He also made a remark about his team: "Tomorrow they'll get back on their feet, this squad has shown plenty of resilience in difficult times".^[18]

San Lorenzo's merits in the 2015 Argentine Primera División yielded them a second place, therefore qualifying for the 2016 Copa Libertadores. River Plate finished the league in ninth place, but would also enter the tournament as reigning champions following their victory in the 2015 finals.^[19]

• 2015 Copa Libertadores
• 2015 Copa Sudamericana
• 2015 Club Atlético River Plate season