River Draws 1-1 with Talleres in Dramatic Finish at Monumental

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — River Plate salvaged a 1-1 draw against Talleres de Córdoba on April 13, 2025, in a gripping match at Estadio Monumental, as Miguel Borja equalized just three minutes before the final whistle after Valentín Depietri had put Talleres ahead early in the second half.

The match was particularly significant for River, looking for redemption after their recent loss to Talleres in the Supercopa Internacional. However, the visitors struck first, catching River off guard.

Depietri opened the scoring mere minutes into the second half, capitalizing on a quick counterattack that left River’s defense exposed. The goal came at the 50-minute mark when Depietri, having raced past a trio of defenders, coolly slotted the ball past goalkeeper Franco Armani.

Despite their strong possession and numerous attempts, River struggled to convert opportunities. Franco Mastantuono displayed his talent throughout the match, creating multiple scoring chances. His 71st-minute shot hit the post, reinforcing River’s growing frustration as Talleres held their slim lead.

River Plate, buoyed by their home crowd, continued to push forward tirelessly. Their persistence paid off in the 87th minute when Borja connected with a pinpoint cross from Gonzalo Montiel to head the ball into the back of the net, leveling the score to 1-1.

“We never gave up, and that’s what we need to carry forward in our next matches,” Borja said post-match. “We wanted the three points, but at least we managed to secure one.”

This draw leaves River in fourth place in Zone B of the Apertura Tournament with 22 points, while Talleres climbed to the ninth position, bringing their total to 13 points.

An additional seven minutes of stoppage time saw River pushing for a winner, but despite their heroic attempts, they could not break through again. “It’s disappointing we couldn’t finish it off, but we’ll take this as a building block for our upcoming games,” coach Marcelo Gallardo remarked.

The match had moments of urgency as River’s players scrambled for the decisive goal. Support from the home crowd grew louder, with chants of “Movete River, Movete” echoing throughout the stadium as frustration mounted.

In the first half, opportunities for both sides were noteworthy, with River’s early threats being met by an impressive performance from Talleres’ goalkeeper Guido Herrera. The match saw several missed chances from River before they found their rhythm.

As the game unfolded, Gallardo made strategic substitutions in hopes of boosting River’s attack, including bringing on Ignacio Fernández and Ian Subiabre late in the second half.

This match highlighted both teams’ contrasting trajectories this season, with River still aiming for a top spot in the league and Talleres fighting to solidify their position amid struggling performances this campaign.