Match Report

Racing Club left it until the final seconds to clinch a home victory over Newell’s Old Boys on Wednesday at a rain-soaked El Cilindro, thanks to a 97th-minute winner from the on-loan Uruguayan Gastón Martirena.

Newells started brightly but were unable to convert their early chances. The pick of them was a well-worked move down the left with Brian Aguirre jinking into the box, laying it off for Cristian Ferreira, but his shot was saved well by Racing’s stopper Gaby Arias, who remains one of the top keepers in Argentine football. 

Racing didn’t make Lucas Hoyos work too hard in the Newells’ goal in the first 45 but started to pepper his goal with shots in the second half. Newell’s defenders left Garbiel Houche with far too much room in the area, but Hoyos was on hand to make a solid save but Jonathan Gómez would not be denied after 71 minutes. 

Pressure from Roger Martínez forced a turnover in the final third, Martinez fed a neat pass forward for Juan Quintero who selflessly laid it back to the edge of the area, central of the goal for Gómez to pick his spot and placed the ball into the bottom right corner. It was a devastating transition move, with slick passing and a fine finish that looked like giving the hosts the victory. 

Racing looked to press their goal advantage, which is the way Racing have played under Gago, not happy to sit on a lead but to play and secure a victory, in an open and attacking game Racing had 15 shots in total with six on target, with Newells shooting 12 times, four on target. 

Gabriel Heinze’s team surged forward in search of goals, with some good play off the shoulder of the last defender generating chances by Jeremías Pérez Tica, however, the equaliser came from a long ball over the top and a mistake.  

Guillermo Ortiz launched a perfect ball to the edge of the area which Guillermo May headed on towards goal for what should have been a simple save. Unfortunately for Racing, Arias had flown off his line to try and meet the ball, came well short and the ball bobbled into the net, despite a last-gasp attempt to clear from Nicolas Kozlovsky but with the conditions this was impossible. 

Newells had a chance to win deep in time added on, but Ramiro Sordo’s shot from distance was just inches wide of the goal. Racing were back on the attack and a clever outside-of-the-boot pass from Agustín Almendra unlocked the Newells’ defence for Gastón Martirena to drive in on goal from the right. With a passing option in Maximiliano Romero in the area, Martirena opted for a powerful finish from an acute angle past Hoyos to secure a win and his first Racing goal. 

A hard-fought win deep into injury time can be a healthy sign, that a team is together and unwilling to quit, but the nature of the goal conceded will give some pause. Racing were good value for their win, despite making heavy work of it in the late going. 

Racing travel to Mendoza for a clash with Godoy Cruz next time out, whilst Newells will face Estudiantes at home.