2017 Supercopa Argentina
The 2017 Supercopa Argentina was the sixth edition of the Supercopa Argentina, an annual football match played between the winners of the Argentine Primera División and Copa Argentina. The match was contested by the 2016–17 Primera División champions Boca Juniors and the 2016–17 Copa Argentina winners River Plate on 14 March 2018 at the Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza. Both teams were appearing in the competition for the third time.
Boca Juniors qualified as a result of winning the Argentine Primera División, finishing seven points ahead of the second-placed team. River Plate entered the competition after winning the [2017 Copa 1978 FIFA World Cup|Argentina Final|Copa Argentina final] against Atlético Tucumán 2–1.
Watched by a crowd of 40,000, Gonzalo Martínez opened the scoring for River Plate in the 18th minute of the match, thanks to a penalty awarded by referee Patricio Loustau. They extended their lead in the second half when Ignacio Scocco scored from a counter-attack. Following a 2–0 scoreline, River Plate secured their first Supercopa Argentina title.
Background
Founded in 2012, the Supercopa Argentina was established as a contest between the Primera División champions and Copa Argentina winners, taking inspiration from its European variations. The annual football match was originally meant for the champions of the latter competition and the Copa Campeonato, which paired the Torneo Inicial and Torneo Final winners, as single tournaments with only one champion per season were not held in Argentina. The top division was later changed to have 30 teams compete during the 2015 season, effectively ending the purpose of the Copa Campeonato. From that year onwards, whichever team won the league title would qualify for the Supercopa as the league reigning champions.Boca Juniors entered the tournament by winning the 2016–17 Primera División, in which they finished seven points clear of their second-placed rivals. They had played two matches during that season, with either team winning at each other's home ground. Boca Juniors won 4–2 at the Estadio Monumental, while River Plate earned a victory in La Bombonera following a 3–1 scoreline. River Plate were the holders of the Copa Argentina, having won the final match of the tournament 2–1 against Atlético Tucumán, therefore ensuring their right to participate in the match.
This was the first meeting between the two sides in the competition. Boca Juniors were appearing in the Supercopa Argentina for the third time. They had lost their previous two finals – firstly in 2012, when Arsenal de Sarandí beat them 4–3 on penalties after a scoreless draw, and later in 2015, when they lost to San Lorenzo 4–0. River Plate were also making their third appearance in the tournament. They were looking to win their first Supercopa title, having already been denied in the 2014 and 2016 editions against Huracán and Lanús respectively.
It was only the second time in history that the two clubs were to face each other in the decisive match of a tournament. The only other time they had met in such instance was over 41 years prior, when they were paired in the final of the 1976 Argentine Primera División, which went in favour of Boca Juniors 1–0. Guillermo Barros Schelotto's team seemed to be the overwhelming favourite. Their recent showing in the 2017-18 Superliga Argentina was remarkable, leading the league with a record of 15 victories in 19 matches. In total, the team had been leading the league for over 500 days. In turn, River Plate had won only three of their last 16 league matches, and were 23 points behind the frontrunners. The latest official match they had played between each other coming into the Supercopa was a 2–1 away win for Boca Juniors, corresponding to that league's eighth matchday. Even though the odds of winning for Marcelo Gallardo's squad seemed scarce, he declared in a pre-match interview: "The moment in which the teams arrive won't matter. If there had to be a favorite it could be Boca Juniors. But even they know that's not going to be the case."
Venue
It was confirmed on 7 February 2018 that the sixth edition of the Supercopa would take place at the Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza. The match was originally scheduled to be hosted at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes in Córdoba, but Argentine Football Association president Claudio Tapia announced the change of venue just five weeks prior to the start of the event, citing logistical issues. The poor condition of the field and a major road construction project going on near the stadium were later brought up as reasons for the replacement.The 42,000-capacity Estadio Malvinas Argentinas opened 14 May 1978. The stadium was built for the FIFA World Cup held in Argentina, during which it hosted six games. It was also one of the eight venues selected for the 2011 Copa América, and had recently been the recipient of the Copa Argentina final in 2017.
Match
Summary
First half
River Plate kicked off the game. They started to press high up the pitch, looking for ball control early in the game. Boca Juniors sat with composure, looking to exploit the slowness of the opposing defenders and waiting for any mistake that would leave their forwards a chance to score. The match unfolded slowly and predictably, as River Plate manager Marcelo Gallardo put Gonzalo Martínez, Ignacio Fernández, Enzo Pérez and Leonardo Ponzio to the task of man marking Boca Juniors' midfielders. They exerted significant physical effort, sticking to a game plan that focused on neutralizing their opponents, thus preventing any opportunities from arising that could originate from their ball possession. Nearing the 16th minute of play, a stray cross fell to Fernández, who initiated a one-two passing play with Martínez. The former was getting ready to take the shot, but was brought down by Edwin Cardona as he entered the area. Match official Patricio Loustau awarded a spot kick, which Martínez stood up to take. The playmaker calmly slotted the penalty past Agustín Rossi to make it 1–0 just 18 minutes into the match.Once in the lead, River Plate proceeded to take further control, as they ruled out attacking midfielder Cardona and forward Cristian Pavón from the game through tight marking. Carlos Tévez's involment in the offensive line was also nullified, as he had to leave the area for tenance of the ball, thus not fulfilling his role as a striker. Although Boca Juniors had possession, they were unable to stand up to their opposition's defensive block, who relied on a solid defense and consistent pressure to remain untroubled. River Plate were close to extending their lead after Martínez took a left-footed shot from outside the box, to which goalkeeper Rossi reacted late, albeit managing to tip it away.
Second half
Boca Juniors went all out in search of an equalizer. They came close to achieving it just two minutes in, when Franco Armani stretched out to tip the ball out for a corner, after Pablo Pérez had sent a cross that Cristian Pavón managed to make contact with. Ninety seconds later, a free kick sent by Cardona from the right landed on the edge of the six-yard box, where Lucas Pratto unintentionally deviated the ball for the net. Armani appeared once again, as he raised his left palm and prevented the own goal. River Plate continued to fend off a better showing from their rivals based on a strong defensive effort. Gallardo made all three substitutions during the first 22 minutes of the half. He first switched right-back Gonzalo Montiel, who was suffering from a muscle strain, for Camilo Mayada. His second sub off was a fatigued Enzo Pérez, replaced by Bruno Zuculini. Minutes later, Pratto left the pitch for striker Ignacio Scocco.At the 24-minute mark, Cardona found Frank Fabra on the left, after filtering a pass that ran through both Jonatan Maidana and Mayada. The Colombian full-back was left one-on-one against Armani, and proceeded to unveil a low left-footed shot to the far post, which the keeper saved. Uruguayan midfielder Nahitan Nández tried another low shot to the near post immediately after, to no avail, as it was also deflected by Armani. The subsequent corner kick was taken, which was cleared away by Scocco as he saw Ignacio Férnandez coming in for the ball with momentum. The midfielder ran down the pitch whlist he drove the counter-attack, eventually laying the ball off to Gonzalo Martínez, who performed an inside cut that left his marker behind and sent a precise cross for Scocco to finish in front of the net. Boca Juniors' Guillermo Barros Schelotto responded to the goal by subbing striker Ramón Ábila in for right-back Leonardo Jara. The remainder of the match was theirs in terms of possession, although they lacked initiative and cohesive play. In the 88th minute, a chance to pull one back arose for them, following a cross sent by Pavón into the box. Tévez would connect, but his header went wide of the goal. River Plate sat back and waited for the final whistle, as the 2–0 scoreline was to be final.
Statistics
| Goals scored | 0 | 2 |
| Total shots | 15 | 7 |
| Shots on target | 4 | 4 |
| Ball possession | 66% | 34% |
| Corner kicks | 5 | 2 |
| Fouls committed | 17 | 20 |
| Offsides | 2 | 1 |
| Yellow cards | 5 | 3 |
| Red cards | 0 | 0 |
Post-match
Marcelo Gallardo's stay as manager of River Plate was in question before the game, due to the poor results leading up to the match, as well as some of the transfers he had requested. He addressed this discussion after the win, boasting with irony: "We knew how Boca Juniors played, but they didn't know how we would It was part of the strategy to play badly these past two months in order to win the most important match we had this semester."Boca Juniors' Guillermo Barros Schelotto was disappointed with the result. He expressed his thoughts in a later held press conference, stating: "They didn't dominate us, they didn't control the ball and didn't have any scoring opportunities." He explained further: “The defeat was unfair. They hardly ever threatened us. One goal came from a penalty and the other from a counter-attack. We're left frustrated about the result.”
The outcome of the Supercopa impacted both teams differently, causing a turning point especially for River Plate, who won seven and drew one of their last eight league fixtures. They also went on to have an almost eight-month unbeaten streak, totalizing 32 consecutive games without a loss. In turn, Boca Juniors only achieved 12 of their remaining 24 points in play. Finishing just two ahead of runners-up Godoy Cruz, they won the 2017-18 Superliga Argentina, thus qualifying for the 2019 Copa Libertadores. River Plate would finish eighth in the Argentine league; however, they also entered the following season's continental tournament by defeating Boca Juniors in the final of the 2018 edition, winning 5–3 on aggregate.