River Plate came back from a goal down to draw 1-1 with Guarani late Tuesday and se-cure a 3-1 aggregate win that takes them into their first Libertadores Cup final since 1996.

Guarani, bidding to become the third Paraguayan team in three years to reach the final of South America’s equivalent of the Champions League, took the lead when Fernando Fernandez latched on to a cross after Marcelo Palau had hit the post with a header.

The home side had chances to get the second goal but left space at the back and River took advantage when they killed the tie off with a vital away goal.

Substitute Fernando Cavenaghi put Lucas Alario through and his lob from the edge of the box bounced once before hitting the roof of the net.

It was his first goal for the club and sent the 10,000 fans who had crossed the border from Argentina into raptures.