Third place in the 2017 Florida Cup FC Playoff stage was up for grabs this afternoon, with River Plate and Vasco da Gama squaring off in the first match of Saturday’s final day double-header. Vasco da Gama, with two River Plate goals waived off in the second half, needed only a free kick goal in the 74th minute to seal a 1-0 victory and the elusive third-place trophy at Bright House Networks Stadium.
The referees were a fairly central talking point throughout the match, with the assistant ref waiving off a pair of River Plate goals in the second half — first in the 55th on Lucas Alario’s clean finish from close range, then eight minutes later when Rodrigo Mora’s header found the net, but was declared offside.