In a night charged with tension, drama, and the high stakes typical of Argentine football, River Plate edged past Racing Club 1-0 at the Gigante de Arroyito stadium in Rosario, clinching a coveted spot in the semifinals of the Copa Argentina. The lone goal came courtesy of Maximiliano Salas, whose early strike proved decisive in a quarterfinal marked by stoppages, cards, and a relentless battle for supremacy.
Even before the match settled into a rhythm, River Plate seized the initiative. Barely five minutes had elapsed when Facundo Colidio burst down the left flank, latching onto a long ball and surging past his marker. His pinpoint cross found Salas, who finished first-time to put River ahead. It was a moment of clinical execution that set the tone for the rest of the encounter. As reported by Diario AS, “The name of the preview, the ex of Racing, puts the first goal of the match. A play born on the wing that he finished in the six-yard box at his leisure.”
River nearly doubled their advantage soon after, with Colidio and Salas combining again following a defensive miscue by Franco Pardo. However, Racing’s goalkeeper Facundo Cambeses reacted swiftly, denying the Millonario a second goal with a crucial save. The early exchanges hinted at a high-octane contest, and Racing responded in kind. Santiago Solari’s header forced a sharp stop from Franco Armani, and Adrián Martínez—always a threat—tested the River keeper with a close-range effort. Lucas Martínez Quarta was on hand to block another attempt from Martínez, as Racing pressed for an equalizer.
Despite the early fireworks, the first half soon gave way to a tense midfield battle, punctuated by fouls and interruptions. Both teams probed for openings, but defenses held firm. Colidio came agonizingly close to scoring a wonder goal with a right-footed rocket from distance, while Salas missed the target on a rapid counterattack. The atmosphere grew increasingly charged, with yellow cards brandished to Castaño, Rojas, Acuña, Balboa, Portillo, Solari, Almendra, Montiel, and Adrián Martínez. As the tackles flew in and tempers frayed, the referee struggled to keep a lid on proceedings.
One of the game’s defining moments arrived late in the first half, when flares and smoke forced a ten-minute stoppage. The visibility on the pitch plummeted, and the match was halted until conditions improved. The tension in the stands spilled onto the field, as objects were thrown and the players tried to stay focused amid the chaos. Once play resumed, the sense of urgency only intensified.
As the second half began, both coaches—Marcelo Gallardo for River Plate and Gustavo Costas for Racing—opted for tactical tweaks rather than wholesale changes. River’s starting lineup featured Armani in goal; Montiel, Martínez Quarta, Rivero, and Acuña at the back; a midfield trio of Kevin Castaño, Portillo, and Galoppo; Quintero as playmaker; and the attacking duo of Salas and Colidio. Racing responded with Cambeses in goal; Pardo, Sosa, Colombo, and Mura in defense; Zuculini, Almendra, and Rojas in midfield; and a forward line of Santiago Solari, Adrián Martínez, and Conechny.
Gallardo’s side, stung by a recent run of four consecutive defeats and a painful Copa Libertadores exit at the hands of Palmeiras, showed resilience and composure. River controlled possession, slowing the tempo and frustrating Racing’s attempts to build momentum. Substitutions followed: Lencina replaced Salas, Miguel Borja came on for Colidio, Galarza replaced Galoppo, and Nacho Fernández entered for Quintero. Racing shuffled their pack as well, bringing on Rojo and Balboa for Zuculini and Colombo, and later introducing Vergara for Conechny.
The match’s physical edge never relented. Adrián Martínez, already on a yellow card, was sent off after a reckless challenge, reducing Racing to ten men and further complicating their task. The referee’s patience wore thin as the cards continued to pile up, and the game threatened to boil over on more than one occasion. According to Diario AS, “The match had extended stoppage time with 14 minutes added overall,” a testament to the numerous delays and heated exchanges.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Racing pushed forward in search of an equalizer. Their best opportunities came from crosses into the box, but River’s defense, marshaled by Armani and Martínez Quarta, held firm. Cambeses kept Racing in the contest with a string of impressive saves, notably denying a powerful effort from Nacho Fernández and thwarting a late River counterattack. Yet, for all their endeavor, Racing lacked the cutting edge needed to break down River’s disciplined rearguard.
The final whistle brought relief for Gallardo’s men, who had weathered both Racing’s attacks and the emotional swings of a turbulent season. For River Plate, this 1-0 victory represented a much-needed return to form, halting a worrying sequence of losses and restoring confidence ahead of the semifinals. As noted by the club’s official website, “Marcelo Gallardo’s team earned a deserved 1-0 victory over Racing, thanks to an early goal from Maximiliano Salas, and will now face Mendoza’s Independiente Rivadavia in search of a place in the final.”
For Racing, the defeat ended a five-match unbeaten run and dashed hopes of adding a Copa Argentina title to their resurgent campaign. Their last outing—a gritty 0-0 draw against arch-rivals Independiente in the Clásico de Avellaneda—had showcased their defensive solidity, but against River, they fell just short. Coach Gustavo Costas, who had steadied the ship after a rocky start to the season, now faces the challenge of regrouping his squad for the league run-in and the semifinals of the Copa Libertadores, where Racing remain in contention after ousting Vélez.
The rivalry between these two giants had been further stoked by off-field intrigue. River’s pursuit of Salas and Adrián Martínez in the transfer market had added spice to the build-up, with Salas ultimately donning River’s famous red sash while Martínez stayed loyal to Racing. The subplot added personal stakes to an already high-pressure occasion.
Looking ahead, River Plate will now prepare for a semifinal showdown against Independiente Rivadavia of Mendoza, who advanced by defeating Tigre. The other side of the bracket features Belgrano and Argentinos Juniors, each eyeing a place in the final. For Gallardo and his players, the chance to lift another domestic trophy remains very much alive.
As the dust settles in Rosario, River Plate’s gritty, hard-fought win over Racing serves as a reminder of the fine margins that define knockout football. With their Copa Argentina dream still intact, the Millonario faithful can look forward to another dramatic chapter in their club’s storied history. The journey continues, with all eyes now on the looming semifinal clash.
