A 92nd minute Ariel Ortega winner was the difference as River Plate picked up a vital 2-1 victory over Club America at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires.

River Plate, who lost 2-1 against San Martin in Lima in their debut, started strongly and almost went ahead early on when a long distance Ariel Ortega effort hit the left post.

But from the run of play America would take a surprise lead in the 14th minute when Jose Mosqueda beat a defender down the right flank, swung in a precise cross to Salvador Cabanas, who beat Juan Pablo Carrizo with a powerful header.

Minutes later River almost went level, but this time Ortega hit the cross bar, with a smart header, after Sebastian Abreu nodded the ball into his direction.

Hernan Rodrigo Lopez had a great chance to put the Mexicans ahead once again when he was put through unmarked in the area, but quite incredibly the Uruguayan shot wide.

In the 37th minute River finally got level, when Abreu nodded another cross down to Radamel Falcao Garcia, who fired the ball past America goalkeeper Armando Navarrete.

After the break it was all one-way traffic as River Plate pushed forward and piled heavy pressure on America.

They created several clear opportunities to go ahead, but were constantly kept out by Navarrete, who was keeping his team in the game.

River looked desperate, and pushed forward down the wings through substitutes Diego Buonanotte and Alexis Sanchez, who were in great form.

In the 90th minute Falcao Garcia and Jose Castro were ejected for fighting.

After their tussle there was a mini-brawl between both teams, but soon it settled down, and the match resumed.

But River weren't done yet, and pushed forward in a final attempt to score the winner. And they would have their reward.

In the 92nd minute Buonanotte fed Ortega inside of the area, and the veteran slotted in to give River three vital points.

Team Line-ups

River Plate: Juan Carrizo, Gustavo Cabral, Villagra, Eduardo Tuzzio, Matias Abelairas, Oscar Ahumada, Fernandez, Ariel Ortega, Sebastian Abreu, Radamel Falcao Garcia, Alexis Sanchez. Coach: Diego Simeone.

Club America: Navarrete, Jose Castro, Ismael Rodriguez, Sebastian Dominguez, Oscar Rojas, Diego Cervantes, German Villa, Jose Mosqueda, Arguello, Salvador Cabanas, Hernan Lopez. Coach: Ruben Romano.

Goals: Salvador Cabanas (14'), Radamel Falcao Garcia (37'), Ariel Ortega (92').

Red Cards: Radamel Falcao Garcia (90'), Jose Castro (90').

Venue: Monumental Stadium de Nunez, Buenos Aires. Att: 45,000.