River Plate suffered a dramatic 3-2 defeat to Racing in Avellaneda, getting eliminated from the Argentine Clausura tournament's round of 16. Marcelo Gallardo's team, without Paulo Díaz in the squad, saw a goal in the 93rd minute seal their exit. Racing advances to the quarterfinals against the Lanús-Tigre winner.
The match at Racing's stadium in Avellaneda was a high-stakes clash that sealed River Plate's fate in the Argentine Clausura. Without Paulo Díaz in the squad, Marcelo Gallardo's team endured a tough night that deepened their ongoing crisis.
Racing took the lead at the 4th minute, with Santiago Solari heading in a cross from Gabriel Rojas for 1-0. River struggled to respond in the first half, managing isolated chances but lacking attacking clarity. Goalkeeper Franco Armani kept his side in the game against the hosts' pressure.
Gallardo's halftime substitutions shifted the momentum in the second half. Ian Subiabre, Giuliano Galoppo, and Juan Fernando Quintero came on and energized the midfield. At the 63rd minute, Subiabre slotted home from a Sebastián Driussi cross to level 1-1. Just a minute later, Quintero curled a left-footed shot from outside the box for a 2-1 lead.
The advantage was short-lived. At the 73rd minute, Lucas Martínez Quarta unintentionally deflected a ball into his own net, tying it 2-2. Racing pushed relentlessly, racking up shots in Armani's area. The drama peaked in the 90+3rd minute, as Gastón Martirena capitalized on rebounds after a double save to score the 3-2 winner. (Note: An associated tweet credits Adrián Martínez for the goal, but the main report specifies Martirena).
This exit ends River Plate's run in the tournament and raises questions about their form. Racing, with Gabriel Arias on the bench, celebrates advancement to the quarterfinals.