Argentinian giants River Plate secured a decisive 3-1 victory over Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds in their opening match of the FIFA Club World Cup on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. This historic first-ever encounter between the two clubs saw a dominant performance from the Buenos Aires side, who now sit in a strong position in their group.
The match, held at Lumen Field in Seattle, kicked off with immediate intensity from River Plate. Their attacking prowess was on full display from the early stages, and it didn't take long for their pressure to pay off. In the 12th minute, **Facundo Colidio** opened the scoring for the Argentinian club with a well-placed header, sending the vocal contingent of River Plate supporters into a frenzy.
River Plate continued to control the tempo for the remainder of the first half, though Urawa's defense held firm to prevent any further damage before the break.
The second half saw a renewed push from the J-League side, but it was River Plate who would strike again. Just three minutes after the restart, **Sebastin Driussi** doubled the lead for the Millonarios, seemingly putting the game out of reach.
However, Urawa Red Diamonds showed their resilience and were awarded a penalty in the 58th minute. **Yusuke Matsuo** calmly converted from the spot to pull one back for his team and inject a new sense of urgency into the contest.
Despite Urawa's efforts to find an equalizer, River Plate's quality ultimately shone through. **Maximiliano Meza** sealed the victory in the 73rd minute with a decisive goal, restoring their two-goal advantage and ensuring a winning start to their Club World Cup campaign.
The result places River Plate in a favorable position as they look to advance to the knockout stages of the prestigious tournament. For Urawa Red Diamonds, they will need to regroup and seek a positive result in their next match to keep their hopes of progression alive.
