River Plate Secures Late Equalizer Against Talleres in Draw

In a tightly contended match at the Estadio Monumental, River Plate faced Talleres and ultimately earned a 1-1 draw thanks to a late goal from Miguel Borja. The draw was River's fourth in a row, preventing them from clinching a spot in the round of 16, where they currently occupy the fourth position in Group B with 22 points, while Talleres lingers in ninth with 13 points.

Earlier in the tournament, Group A leaders Boca Juniors secured their advancement to the next round by achieving a 3-1 victory over Belgrano. The competition format allows the eight top teams from both groups to progress, adding pressure on River to improve their standings.

Despite dominating possession early in the match, River was unable to score, with opportunities squandered. A notable moment came when midfielder Franco Mastantuono expressed frustration, stating, "We had chances in the first half to open the scoring, but it didn't happen," as he acknowledged the team’s struggles in the final third of the field.

In the second half, Talleres took the lead with a goal from substitute Valentin Depietri just five minutes after the restart. River continued to press for an equalizer but struggled with their finishing, with Bastantuono hitting the post and multiple crucial saves from Talleres goalkeeper Guido Herrera.

With just three minutes left in the match, Borja saved the day for River Plate, scoring a powerful header from a cross delivered by Gonzalo Montiel. Mastantuono reflected on the match, considering both bad luck and decision-making as factors in their recent performances, insisting that despite the setbacks, the team is focused on improving their offensive execution.