River and Racing draw in Mendoza

Sunday night’s Torneo de Verano match took place in the Estadio Malvinas Argentinas in Mendoza, and saw Racing leading in a closely-fought game which only came to something approximating life in the second half. With almost the last attack of the game, though, Néstor Gorosito’s men got a deserved equaliser to remain unbeaten after two summer matches – although they’ve also not yet won one.

During a dreadful first half with plenty of misplaced passing, poor control and few goalscoring opportunities, the only highlight was Pablo Lugüercio’s individual run down the Racing right, but he hashed the chance to put his side ahead at the end of it. It was eight minutes into the second half that Racing midfielder Claudio Yacob eventually broke the deadlock.

Yacob stabbed home after the ball fell at his feet following a free kick which Adrián Lucero had lofted into the box, and Racing had the advantage. Just over ten minutes later, Yacob was sent off for a second yellow card, and River, still a goal down, at least had a numerical advantage. They proceeded to press, but José Luis Martínez Gullotta in the Racing goal kept them out in spite of their best efforts.

That was until Radamel Falcao García got his first goal of the season with a towering header from a Paulo Ferrari cross two minutes into stoppage time, to save Gorosito having to give his side too much of a dressing down. Moments later, Oscar Ahumada was given a second yellow for challenging Juan Carlos Falcón in the area, and thus the match finished level both in scoreline, and in terms of men on the pitch by the end.