Argentina Cup: Racing Club’s Cup Legacy Through the Years

After reaching the final in the contest’s first edition since its revival, the Academy found trouble in the national competition within the federal format.

Across Argentine football history, Racing has delivered standout performances in the national cups, earning a reputation as one of the most successful clubs in this arena for decades. It currently sits tied for second with 14 titles, matching River and just two behind Boca. Yet there is a single competition that has consistently eluded the Academy: the Argentine Cup.

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Even though the Avellaneda club reached the final once and the semi-finals on another occasion, the long list of setbacks includes five defeats against promotion sides across the 11 editions of the tournament, counting the 1969 edition and excluding the canceled 1970 edition.

Next, GOAL reviews Racing’s journey through edition by edition of the Argentine Cup.

ARGENTINE CUP 1969

In the original edition, which combined promotion teams and a direct knockout format, Racing only advanced past the first stage and was eliminated in the round of 16 by Chacarita, a squad that would soon become Metropolitan champions and claim its only First Division title months later.

The arc of Racing:

• Round of 32: Racing 2-1 Los Andes; San Juan 1-1
• Round of 8: Racing 1-3; 2-2 Chacarita

ARGENTINE CUP 2011/12

The club’s strongest showing came in the tournament’s reinstated debut. Under the guidance of Luis Zubeldía, with Diego Simeone in the first stage and Alfio Basile later, Racing faced only promoted sides, including a dramatic penalty shootout win in the semifinals against a river-side club returning to the First Division via B Nacional. The final, played in San Juan, saw Racing fall to Boca.

The arc of Racing:

• Round of 32: Racing 2-0 El Porvenir
• Round of 16: Racing 3-1 Patronato
• Round of 8: Racing 2-0 Sarmiento
• Round of 4: Racing 1-0 Atlético Tucumán
• Semifinals: Racing 0-0 (5-4) River
• Final: Racing 1-2 Boca

ARGENTINE CUP 2012/13

Racing’s first appearance in the cup came on April 24, 2013, in San Juan. Led by Zubeldía, the team faced Tristan Suárez, a lower-tier rival at the time, and was eliminated in a match that ended with nine players after expulsions for Mario Bolatti and Mauro Camoranesi.

The arc of Racing:

• Round of 32: Racing 0-1 Tristan Suárez

ARGENTINE CUP 2013/14

For the second consecutive year, Racing was eliminated by a lower-division opponent. After a solid debut, the team reached the round of 16 against Argentinos Juniors, who had been relegated to B Nacional. Amid a crisis following the derby loss to Independiente, and at Huracán’s field, they were defeated by a stoppage-time free-kick goal from Juan Román Riquelme. The year closed with Racing crowned as First Division champions.

The arc of Racing:

• Round of 16: Racing 1-0 San Martin
• Round of 8: Racing 0-1 Argentinos Juniors

ARGENTINE CUP 2014/15

Racing’s second-best run arrived in 2015, when the Academy reached the semi-finals. Under Diego Cocca, Avellaneda’s side overcame two promotion teams and two top-tier opponents before bowing to Rosario Central in Salta.

The arc of Racing:

• Round of 32: Racing 2-0 Independiente
• Round of 16: Racing 2-1 Tigre
• Round 8: Racing 1-1 (4-2) Atlanta
• Round of 4: Racing 2-1 San Lorenzo
• Semifinals: Racing 0-1 Rosario Central

ARGENTINE CUP 2015/16

In 2016 Racing faced a unique arc, playing three matches with a different coach for each game. The campaign began under Facundo Sava, continued with interim Claudio Úbeda, and concluded under Ricardo Zielinski after a defeat to Gimnasia on Banfield’s turf.

The arc of Racing:

• Round of 32: Racing 2-0 Gymnastics and Shooting
• Round of 16: Racing 2-1 Olimpo
• Round of 8: Racing 0-1 Gymnastics

ARGENTINE CUP 2016/17

Racing’s third cup run under Diego Cocca lasted only two games. After a win against a promotion side in the opener, they were eliminated in the round of 16 by Olimpo, then in the top flight, at Banfield’s venue.

The arc of Racing:

• Round of 32: Racing 2-1 Mitre
• Round of 16: Racing 2-4 Olimpo

ARGENTINE CUP 2017/18

Eduardo Coudet’s era brought two trophies to the cabinet but also several stinging Cup eliminations. The first came in 2018, when Racing was knocked out by Sarmiento de Resistencia, a Federal A side, at Banfield’s pitch.

The arc of Racing:

• Round of 32: Racing 0-1 Sarmiento

ARGENTINE CUP 2018/19

Building on that setback, Racing was eliminated early again the next edition, this time by Boca Unidos from Federal A, which edged them on penalties after a goalless draw.

The arc of Racing:

• Round of 32: Racing 0-0 (2-4) Boca Unidos

ARGENTINE CUP 2019/21

In the pandemic-disrupted cycle, the Academy played its three matches after the restart in 2021. With Juan Antonio Pizzi in charge, it defeated promotion rivals but fell to Godoy Cruz in Córdoba, with Claudio Úbeda overseeing the match.

The arc of Racing:

• Round of 32: Racing 3-1 Sportivo Belgrano
• Round of 16: Racing 2-2 (4-1) San Martín
• Round of 8: Racing 3-3 (4-5) Godoy Cruz

ARGENTINE CUP 2022

Under Fernando Gago, the Cup campaign included three straight eliminations that punctuated a difficult spell: a group-stage exit in the Copa Sudamericana, a semi-final setback in the League Cup, and a shocking early exit in the Cup against a lower division opponent. The Federal matchup home defeat against a First National rival stands out as one of the frustrating moments of that tenure.

The arc of Racing:

• Round of 32: Racing 3-1 Gymnastics and Shooting
• Round of 16: Racing 1-2 Agropecuario

Source: Goal