EN
ESRiver wraps up the tournament in Avellaneda Despite losing 1-0 to Racing, Marcelo Gallardo’s team created several clear opportunities and made the opposing keeper the standout figure.
Racing had the first chance before the first minute, with a dangerous attack down the left. River replied with a solid attacking combination between Pablo Solari and Claudio Echeverri; however, Maximiliano Salas had a one-on-one chance but was thwarted by Franco Armani’s superb save. River also had a one-on-one, but Germán Conti blocked Solari just as he was about to shoot.
Toward the end of the first half, Solari linked up with Echeverri once more, and the “Diablito” took a shot from the middle that narrowly went wide. Racing took the lead with a header from Salas on a corner, although River nearly equalized with a well-placed right-footed shot from Echeverri, on the left side of the penalty area.
Less than a minute into the second half, Gonzalo Martínez and Miguel Borja came off the bench and nearly scored the equalizer. Martínez delivered a cross, and Borja’s header was stopped by Gabriel Arias, followed by a long-range shot from Pity that the keeper denied. River pressed Racing and came close again with a strong left-footed shot from Pity, which Arias pushed over the bar. Gallardo’s team kept creating opportunities, including headers from Solari and Borja.
On a set piece, following a cross from Martínez, Arias pulled off a stunning save to deny Rodrigo Aliendro’s header, while Racing came close to doubling the lead with a quick counterattack right after that play. Johan Carbonero also fired a right-footed shot that Armani kept out with a low save. As a result, River finished with 43 points from 27 matches, 11 wins, 10 draws, and 6 losses. In the tournament, the team scored 38 goals and conceded 21. Borja was River’s top scorer with 11 goals (three of which were penalties).
- Tags
- First Team
