River Plate and Flamengo race to dominant Copa Libertadores wins | OneFootball

Matchday 5 of the Copa Libertadores highlighted the South American footballing calendar this evening, with giant pair River Plate and Flamengo both in action against Independiente del Valle and LDU Quito respectively.

Here is how all the action broke down in Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro.

River Plate storm back to seal Group B

Scorers: Driussi 8', Zarate 26' (OG), Mastantuono 45+5' (pen), Meza 51', Borja 88', Lanzini 90+4'; Hoyos 11', Spinelli 21'

Sent off: Carabajal 45+4'

River Plate secured the top spot in Group B after a 6-2 comeback win against Ecuadorian outfit Independiente del Valle.

A rip-roaring opening 30 minutes of action would set the stage for a tumultuous clash in Buenos Aires, with the goal fest getting started in the 8th minute through Sebastian Driussi.

But the visitors would strike back just three minutes later through veteran winger Michael Hoyos before Los Negriazules took the lead ten minutes later thanks to a strike from Claudio Spinelli.

Marcelo Gallardo's troops would then battle back five minutes after to level the score courtesy of an own goal from Luis Zarate.

River would take the lead late into first-half stoppage time when Independiente defender Mateo Carabajal received a straight red after fouling Argentine starlet Franco Mastantuono in the box before the 17-year-old stepped up to convert his effort from the spot.

Maximiliano Meza would extend Los Millonarios' lead on the night minutes after the interval when he roofed his effort into the top left corner from outside of the box, with Miguel Borja adding a fifth on the scoresheet in the 88th minute to guarantee all three points before a late strike from Manuel Lanzini piled on the misery.

Flamengo secure dominant win at Maracanã

Scorers: Ortiz 10', Araújo 54'

Normal service resumed for Filipe Luís and Flamengo with a comfortable 2-0 home win against LDU Quito.

A header from defender Léo Ortiz would set Rubro-Negro away on the night in just the 10th minute at the fabled Maracanã after he rose highest in the box to head Luiz Araújo's corner home from close range.

Former Lille and Atlanta United forward Luiz Araújo would make it two-nil on the night in the 54th minute as the Brazilian giants continued their dominant display in front of home support in Rio.

Flamengo would continue to glide toward a comfortable win on the night despite being unable to hit a third before the end of full-time.

This result sees the Brazilian side climb up to second in Group C and with a chance to top the group on matchday six should they defeat Deportivo Tachira and group leaders Central Cordoba suffer against Quito on the final day.

📸 JUAN MABROMATA - AFP or licensors