Racing Club Stuns River Plate with Last-Gasp Winner in Thrilling 3-2 Victory
Key Takeaways
- Martirena's stoppage-time strike steals the derby — Gastón Martirena's 93rd-minute goal completed a remarkable comeback for Racing Club, turning a likely draw into a 3-2 victory and sending the Cilindro into delirium.
- Racing showed championship-level resilience — After conceding twice in three minutes (62' and 64') to surrender their early lead, Racing refused to fold. The equalizer via Martínez Quarta's own goal in the 73rd minute set the stage for the late heroics.
- River's defensive collapse undoes strong comeback — River Plate turned a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead through Subiabre and Quintero, but surrendered two goals in the final 20 minutes, including the own goal that proved costly in the end.
Buenos Aires, Argentina — Racing Club snatched a dramatic 3-2 victory over River Plate on Monday night with a stoppage-time winner that sent the Presidente Perón stadium into raptures. The pulsating encounter at the Cilindro de Avellaneda featured five goals, including a last-gasp decider from Gastón Martirena that capped an unforgettable night of Argentine football.
The home side wasted no time making their mark, taking the lead in just the fourth minute. Santiago Solari rose magnificently in the center of the box to power a header into the top left corner from Gabriel Rojas' pinpoint cross. The early goal electrified the Racing faithful, who created a wall of noise as their team continued to press forward.
River Plate weathered the early storm and grew into the contest, eventually finding their equalizer in the 62nd minute. Ian Subiabre finished clinically with a left-footed shot from the center of the box that flew into the top left corner, with Sebastián Driussi providing the cross that unlocked Racing's defense. Just two minutes later, River Plate completed their turnaround when Juan Quintero unleashed a sublime left-footed effort from outside the box that nestled in the bottom right corner, silencing the home crowd.
The match took another dramatic turn in the 73rd minute when Racing Club drew level through an unfortunate own goal. Lucas Martínez Quarta inadvertently diverted the ball into his own net, restoring parity and reigniting the passionate home support. The intensity of the derby was reflected in the disciplinary record, with Adrián Martínez, Ignacio Fernández, and Lautaro Rivero all receiving yellow cards before the 55th minute.
With the match seemingly heading for a draw, Racing Club found their moment of glory deep into stoppage time. In the third minute of added time, Gastón Martirena delivered the decisive blow with a right-footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner. The stadium erupted as Martirena wheeled away in celebration, though his joy was tempered slightly when he received a yellow card two minutes later for excessive celebration.
The victory showcased Racing Club's resilience and fighting spirit, bouncing back from surrendering their early lead to claim all three points in the most dramatic fashion. For River Plate, despite the impressive comeback that briefly put them ahead, the late collapse will be a bitter pill to swallow as they leave the Cilindro empty-handed after contributing to a classic Buenos Aires derby.