Match Report

Roger Martinez saved Racing’s blushes on Monday to secure a valuable point in added time as Racing navigated a tricky away tie against the unbeaten Godoy Cruz.

The hosts started the brighter of the two sides forcing saves from Racing stopper Gaby Arias Racing, but outside of a yellow card to Godoy’s Federico Rasmussen little of note happened in the opening 45 minutes.

That all changed eight minutes into the second half thanks to Tadeo Allende’s fine opener. After receiving the ball on the half-turn from Lucas Arce, Allende easily bypassed the Racing midfield, drove into the area, turning Piovi before firing in Arias’ far bottom corner before hitting The Griddy in celebration. It was as simple as it was devastating and with Racing struggling to challenge the goal of Diego Rodríguez it looked like being the deciding goal.

Racing saw their fortunes turn somewhat in the 74th minute as Thomas Galdames received his marching orders. Having taken a heavy touch after intercepting a Racing pass, Galdames slid in, studs showing and caught a stretching Juan Nardoni flush on the ankle. Initially a yellow card, it was rightly upgraded to a red by the VAR. Both players are fortunate that Nardoni’s leg wasn’t properly planted and Nardoni was able to finish the game.

With the player advantage, Racing drove forward in numbers looking to capitalise. An acrobatic effort from Roger Martinez was easily denied by a gaggle of Godoy defenders, and Nicolás Oroz will be left to wonder what might have been as his beautifully looping shot from the edge of the area clattered off the crossbar.

Racing kept pushing for an equalizer and as the smoke of the fireworks dissipated, Roger Martinez took an awkward shot along the turf past the dispairing Rodríguez. Martinez collected a pass from Gabriel Rojas just outside the area, cut onto his right foot and sidefooted a perfectly placed finish into the bottom corner through a sea of bodies.

Rojas thought he had secured the victory for Racing in the dying moments of the game, but for his fine close-range finish to be pulled back for offside. As Racing searched for the winner, Gabriel Hauche was just inches ahead of the last man as he collected Maximiliano Romero’s flick-on header before sending the ball back into the melee in front of goal to be turned in by Rojas.

Racing will likely look at the game as points dropped, but Godoy Cruz held their own well with 11 players and rode their luck when reduced to ten. The result keeps Racing top of group B after six games with a home Clasico de Avellaneda coming up on Saturday Night.