Racing Club and Estudiantes Battle to Dramatic Penalty Shootout Draw
Puntos Clave
- Racing Club and Estudiantes played to a thrilling 1-1 draw
- Adrián Martínez opened scoring before Guido Carrillo's dramatic late equalizer
- Estudiantes edged penalty shootout 5-4 after 120 minutes of deadlock
- Both teams showed championship mettle in Santiago del Estero thriller
Everything hung in the balance as Racing Club, sitting third in the early Liga Profesional standings, faced eighth-placed Estudiantes de La Plata in what promised to be a defining cup encounter. The neutral venue of Santiago del Estero's Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades witnessed an epic battle that ended in a pulsating 1-1 draw, with Estudiantes ultimately prevailing 5-4 on penalties after 120 minutes of relentless action.
The breakthrough arrived in the 81st minute when Adrián Martínez showcased his clinical finishing ability. Racing's swift counter-attack caught Estudiantes off guard, and Martínez rifled a right-footed shot from the left side of the box into the top right corner with devastating precision. The Racing faithful erupted as their team appeared destined for victory, but football had other plans.
Drama reached fever pitch in the dying moments of regulation time. With the clock showing 90+3 minutes, José Sosa's perfectly weighted set piece found Guido Carrillo, who powered a header from the centre of the box into the bottom left corner. The veteran striker's equalizer sent the Estudiantes contingent into raptures and forced the match into extra time, where both sides traded blows without finding the decisive goal.
Racing dominated possession at 54.4% and created more clear-cut opportunities, registering 14 shots compared to Estudiantes' 13. However, Fernando Muslera proved instrumental between the posts for Estudiantes, making crucial saves including a spectacular stop to deny Adrián Martínez's header in the 114th minute. The tactical battle saw Santiago Sosa and Juan Nardoni controlling Racing's midfield tempo, while José Sosa's experience shone through for Estudiantes in the crucial moments.
The penalty shootout provided its own theater of dreams and heartbreak. Facundo Cambeses saved Edwuin Cetré's effort for Racing, while Fernando Muslera denied Gastón Martirena to keep Estudiantes alive. The decisive moment came when Franco Pardo struck the left post with Racing's final penalty, allowing Facundo Rodríguez to convert the winning spot-kick and send Estudiantes through.
Estudiantes wins on penalties.