Independiente Rivadavia and Deportivo Riestra faced off on December 16, 2024, at the Estadio Bautista Gargantini, ending their Liga Profesional season with a tense goalless draw. Both clubs, who arrived at the match with differing fortunes, experienced drama and controversy throughout the game, largely centered around the officiations of referee Juan Pafundi. The match resulted in no goals, but it managed to draw out passionate sentiment from the stands, especially concerning pivotal refereeing decisions.
Throughout the match, Independiente Rivadavia appeared stronger offensively, maintaining control and displaying more possession, yet they faltered at converting opportunities. They made decisive moves, demonstrating their hunger for victory, having come off the back of four straight wins, including notable victories against River Plate and Tigre. Coach Alfredo Berti’s players were eager to repeat their recent successes, eager to close out the season positively for their fans.
On the other side, Deportivo Riestra traveled to Mendoza under far different conditions. They were desperately seeking to end an eight-match winless streak, having drawn seven of those games and lost once. Coach Cristian Fabbiani hoped his team could break their drought, but they found themselves weathering the storm against Rivadavia, who displayed considerable determination throughout.
The intensity of the match culminated around the 35-minute mark with controversy when Mauricio Cardillo’s apparent goal was disallowed after VAR review, leaving fans and players from Independiente Rivadavia visibly agitated. They had celebrated what they thought was the opening goal only to have it nullified due to Jonathan Herrera's offside position earlier in the play. The lengthy VAR check was met with discontent, underscoring the frustrations fans have long held against the use of technology. Cardillo expressed his disbelief after the match, stating, "I felt it was a clear goal. I don't quite understand what the referee saw."
Adding to the match's unyielding atmosphere, there were pivotal moments beyond just the disallowed goal. Early on, the match displayed physical tension, highlighted by a fierce challenge from Riestra's Gustavo Fernández on Rivadavia's Iván Villalba, which went unpunished except for a yellow card. This decision drew protests from players and fans alike, who felt more stringent penalties were warranted for such violent conduct.
Despite not capitalizing on their dominance, independent players continued to advance and press for goals. Rivadavia’s Sebastian Villa was particularly active, repeatedly testing the defensive line of Deportivo Riestra and coming close on several occasions. Yet, again and again, their attempts either fell just short or were thwarted by the sharp reflexes of Riestra’s goalkeeper Ignacio Arce, who kept his team afloat within the match.
The second half unveiled more efforts from Rivadavia, who made tactical changes early on, with Berti shifting his lineup to increase their offensive presence. The substitutions included bringing on fresh legs to maintain momentum, reflecting their intent to seize control and capitalize on the weak areas of the opposition’s formation. Yet, as Rivadavia ramped up the pressure, Deportivo Riestra also showcased resilience, with Arce expertly handling multiple threatening crosses.
While Independiente Rivadavia created the majority of chances, this match illustrated the dichotomy of the two teams' seasons. Rivadavia finished the season cautiously at the 11th spot with 38 points, facing questions about their failure to reach the top echelon of the league, whereas Deportivo Riestra concluded at 17th position, totaling 35 points which effectively sealed their fate as they look forward to regrouping for the next season. Both teams will reflect on their respective journeys throughout the latest league campaign.
The 27th round of the Liga Profesional wrapped up with goals remaining elusive, underscoring the challenges both teams faced throughout the season. While Rivadavia celebrated moments of triumph earlier, they fell short against rivals like Vélez and Talleres, which reinforces the notion of improvement needed heading forward.
Despite the lack of goals and the controversy surrounding officiations, the match reflected the spirit of competition intrinsic to football, leaving fans with a mix of emotions—frustration for some and hope for redemption for others, as both teams shift gears toward their future endeavors and the next season on the horizon.
