River Plate cruised to a dominant 4-0 win over 10-man Instituto, with teenage forward Santiago Lencina bagging a brace to keep their perfect Clausura start alive.
Teen Talent Lencina Lights It Up as River Plate Roll On
River Plate are flexing early in the Clausura—and the big reason? A breakout night from 19-year-old Santiago Lencina, who scored twice in a commanding 4-0 victory over Instituto ACC in Córdoba on Saturday.
This wasn’t just a win—it was a warning shot. After two rounds, River have made it crystal clear: they mean business this season.
First Half Fireworks: River Take Control
The game cracked open just before halftime, thanks to Facundo Colidio, whose 44th-minute shot took a deflection to sneak past the keeper. But the real highlight came moments later when Lencina bagged his first of the night with a composed left-footed finish—helped again by a deflection off Instituto’s Fernando Alarcón.
Suddenly, it was 2-0 and Instituto were wobbling.
Lencina Makes His Mark
In the 67th minute, Lencina proved it wasn’t just luck. He timed his run perfectly, controlled the ball with poise, and fired home River’s third goal. The teenager is quickly building a rep as more than just a future prospect—he’s already impacting big matches.
And to top off his night? He drew the foul that got Francis Mac Allister sent off in the 73rd minute, after a reckless challenge that left Instituto down to 10.
Galoppo Seals the Deal
With Instituto in disarray, River stayed ruthless. Giuliano Galoppo made it 4-0 late on, capping off the kind of team performance coaches dream about—clinical, energetic, and unrelenting.
It all went down at the Estadio Juan Domingo Perón, but make no mistake: this was River Plate’s stage from start to finish.
What This Means for River
Back-to-back wins. A +6 goal difference. A teenager bursting into the spotlight. Oh, and one of the most complete performances of the young season.
If River keep playing like this, the Clausura could turn into a title march. And if Lencina keeps scoring like this, he might not stay a secret for long.
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