Argentine powerhouse River Plate kicked off its FIFA Club World Cup run with a 3-1 win over Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds.
Heading into the tournament, data provider Opta gave River Plate just an 11% chance to win Group E, which includes Inter Milan, Monterrey and Urawa. But after a strong Matchday 1 win and a 1-1 draw between Inter and Monterrey, River leads the group with increased chances to advance, even if its two toughest opponents still lie ahead.
Head coach Marcelo Gallardo called the result important, but said his team still has room for improvement.
"We have to keep on improving," Gallardo said. "Despite getting the result today, which was the most important thing, there were some nerves around the squad. There was also a sense of obligation to win, so from that perspective, we did what we had to do."
Gallardo said Urawa's compact setup made it hard for River to establish rhythm.
"They defended in a low block and tried to reduce space all over the field," he said. "Even after falling behind, they stuck to their plan and caused us problems in transition."
River's opening goal came in the 12th minute via a header from Facundo Colidio, following a buildup involving 17-year-old winger Franco Mastantuono — one of the brightest young talents in Argentine football.
Earlier this month, Real Madrid signed Mastantuono from River Plate for more than $51 million, according to club president Jorge Brito. It marked the most expensive sale in River Plate and Argentine league history.
"Today's opponent had him well scouted. They played an inverted left back to limit his impact going inside, and they double-teamed him at times," Gallardo said. "Our first goal came from a play where we switched from right to left — an aspect of his game that's very polished."
Gallardo also addressed the status of two injured players following the match. Forward Sebastián Driussi, who scored River's second goal, was subbed off after a collision with Urawa's goalkeeper. Gallardo said Driussi will be evaluated further, with a medical update later showing a severe strain on his left ankle. Meanwhile, midfielder Enzo Pérez was subbed out at halftime due to discomfort linked to pitch conditions.
"Enzo said the surface felt hard and dry, and it was obvious it didn't let the game flow," Gallardo said. "Multiple players from both teams suffered cramps due to how firm the grass was."
Lumen Field — home to the NFL's Seattle Seahawks and soccer teams Sounders FC and Reign FC — is one of four Club World Cup venues using temporary natural grass to meet FIFA's standards.
After complaints during last year's Copa América, FIFA opted for single-installation natural surfaces at turf-based stadiums, rather than swapping overlays between matches.
As reported by ESPN, FIFA developed "shallow pitches" that sit atop a drainage layer and replace the synthetic base. FIFA pitch manager Alan Ferguson said they can be used for up to 60 days without replacement.
In addition to Seattle, MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta are also using these temporary surfaces.
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