2016 Copa Argentina Final
The 2016 Copa Argentina final was a football match between River Plate and Rosario Central on 15 December 2016 at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes in Córdoba, Argentina. It was the final match of the 2015–16 Copa Argentina, the 6th edition of Argentine football's primary cup competition, organised by the Argentine Football Association. River Plate were appearing in their first final, while Rosario Central were making their third appearance, after consecutive defeats in the two prior editions of the tournament.
As both teams were in the highest tier of the football league system in Argentina, the Primera División, they entered the competition in the final round. Matches up to the semi-final were contested on a one-off basis, with a penalty shoot-out taking place if any game ended tied after 90 minutes. River Plate's contests varied from close to comfortable victories, while the majority of Rosario Central's matches were close affairs.
Watched by a crowd of 55,000, River Plate took the lead in the first half when Lucas Alario scored through a penalty referee Patricio Loustau had awarded. Rosario Central turned the game around courtesy of two goals from Damián Musto and Marco Ruben, but Alario once again scored from the spot kick to make the score 2–2 at half time. Ruben would unlevel the match once more for his team after the restart, but two goals in a span of three minutes from Alario, who signed a hat-trick, and striker Iván Alonso gave River Plate their first Copa Argentina win.