On Tuesday, June 17, River Plate kicked off their campaign at the FIFA Club World Cup™ 2025 with an emphatic 3-1 victory over Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan. The match, held at Lumen Field in Seattle, saw goals from Facundo Colidio, Sebastián Driussi, and Maximiliano Meza, with Facundo Colidio named Man of the Match for his goal, movement, and consistent threat in the attack.
With two pinpoint assists from Marcos Acuña, and despite a moment of concern when Yusuke Matsuo pulled one back from the penalty spot, River Plate controlled the tempo for most of the match. The win puts them at the top of Group E, following a draw between Monterrey and Inter Milan.
First Half: River dictates the pace and Colidio opens the scoring
Fast start and early pressure
River Plate took early command of the game by dominating possession and using the wings to create danger. At 9 minutes, Sebastián Driussi cut in from the left and curled a shot that hit the post, nearly opening the scoring.
Three minutes later, at 12’, the breakthrough came: Marcos Acuña delivered a perfect cross from the left flank, and Facundo Colidio timed his run perfectly to head the ball into the bottom left corner: River Plate 1–0 Urawa Red Diamonds.
Left-side strength and territorial control
After the goal, River maintained control with calm possession and intelligent movement. Urawa attempted counterattacks through Takuro Kaneko and Yusuke Matsuo, but River’s defense, led by Lucas Martínez Quarta and Germán Pezzella, stood firm.
At 42′, Kaneko tested Franco Armani, who made a low save to his right. Before halftime, Colidio nearly scored again with another header from Acuña’s cross but missed narrowly.
River ended the half with 61% possession, 7 shots, and total control of tempo and positioning.
Second Half: Driussi extends the lead, Urawa reacts, Meza seals it
Driussi scores and exits injured
At 48 minutes, River doubled their lead. After a misjudged backheader by Marius Høibråten, Driussi capitalized with a smart header over the onrushing Nishikawa: River 2–0 Urawa.
Unfortunately for River, Driussi landed awkwardly during the celebration and had to be substituted shortly after. Medical reports later confirmed a ligament sprain, putting his Club World Cup campaign in jeopardy.
Urawa responds with a penalty goal
In the 56th minute, Kaneko broke into the left side of the box and was fouled by Acuña, who received a yellow card. Yusuke Matsuo calmly slotted the penalty to the bottom left corner in the 58th minute: River 2–1 Urawa.
Urawa’s momentum grew. At 62′, Yoichi Naganuma forced a strong save from Armani, and Watanabe was increasingly influential in the midfield.
Meza closes the door on Urawa’s hopes
Just when Urawa looked closest to equalizing, River struck again. At 73 minutes, Marcos Acuña delivered a corner kick to the center of the box, where Maximiliano Meza rose and headed firmly into the net: River Plate 3–1 Urawa Red Diamonds.
River controlled the final minutes, with Franco Mastantuono coming close to a fourth goal with a header at 82′. Urawa’s last attempts were blocked or stopped by Armani.
Impact on the Group E Standings
With this win, River Plate takes the top spot in Group E with 3 points, ahead of Monterrey and Inter Milan, who drew 1-1. Urawa Red Diamonds, with no points, now sits at the bottom of the group and faces a must-win situation.
River can secure early qualification with a victory over Monterrey in their next match.
Tactical Analysis: How River won and what Urawa lacked
River Plate — Left-flank dominance and aerial superiority
Marcelo Gallardo set up his team in a 4-3-3, focusing on vertical progression through the left side. Marcos Acuña, Colidio, and Driussi created space and opportunities with sharp movement and overlapping runs.
Strengths:
- Left-side combinations
- Set-piece execution
- Smart positional rotations
Weaknesses:
- Transition defense after substitutions
- Limited attacking alternatives without Driussi
Urawa Reds — Brave press, but vulnerable in the air
Coach Maciej Skorża opted for a compact 4-2-3-1, pushing fullbacks high to support counterattacks. While they created danger after the penalty, their defensive structure was too loose under pressure.
Strengths:
- Wing play with speed
- Matsuo’s finishing and composure
- Persistence in the second half
Weaknesses:
- Aerial defending
- Poor positioning on set pieces
Man of the Match: Facundo Colidio
🔹 Nationality: Argentine
🔹 Age: 24
🔹 Goals: 1 (opening goal of the match)
Colidio was decisive from the first whistle. His intelligent positioning, header precision, and link-up play with Acuña tormented Urawa’s defense. He opened the scoring and remained a consistent threat until being substituted in the second half.
Next Matches for River and Urawa
River Plate vs Monterrey — Sunday, June 22
A crucial match for River Plate, who can clinch qualification with a win. The match against Monterrey, a well-structured Mexican side, promises intensity and tactical balance.
Urawa Red Diamonds vs Inter Milan — Saturday, June 21
Facing the 2024 UEFA Champions League runners-up, Urawa needs a near-perfect game to avoid early elimination. Discipline and efficient finishing will be key.
River starts strong, but bigger challenges await
River Plate opened their FIFA Club World Cup 2025 journey with a commanding performance and a well-earned 3-1 victory. With standout contributions from Facundo Colidio, Marcos Acuña, and Franco Armani, the Argentine side took a major step toward the knockout stage.
The injury to Driussi, however, poses tactical challenges for Gallardo going forward. As the group tightens, River’s depth and adaptability will be tested. Meanwhile, Urawa Red Diamonds must regroup quickly for a do-or-die clash against Inter Milan.
Main sources for writing this news
