River Plate had another rough outing away from their home stadium, not only troubled by errors in goal but also missing the opportunity to climb to the top of Zone A. The night in Florencio Sola underscored a return to the doubts that had briefly seemed banished when the team performed at its best on familiar ground.
At the Monumental, River’s long run of unbeaten performances created a perception of near invincibility. That run, an 18-match streak in the league, anchored them firmly in the Zone A standings of the Professional League Cup. Yet on foreign soil, the balance shifted; the team’s away form stained the image, raising questions about whether the squad had truly moved beyond the wear and tear of a difficult schedule under Martín Demichelis.
In Banfield’s backyard, Núñez’s squad arrived with a point to prove and a chance to surge to the summit of the group, following consecutive home victories against Arsenal and Atlético de Tucumán. The visitors did grab the lead midway through the first half when Pablo Solari steered a carom into the net, a moment that seemed to promise control. Still, the momentum did not sustain itself; River never truly dominated the proceedings, and Banfield grew into the game as it advanced.
Franco Armani, once again asked to be the difference-maker, produced a series of crucial saves. His performance became the night’s defining feature, preserving a point for his team as Banfield pressed to equalize. The balancing act culminated when Ignacio Rodríguez struck from distance; the shot clanged off the crossbar and, after a VAR review, found its way into the goal to seal a 1-1 result. River left with a draw that felt more like a victory for Armani and less like a deserved outcome for a team chasing control.
The match offered a snapshot of what River must address: when away from the Monumental, the sharp edge of their attack can dull, and the defense can be stretched to its limits. Yet Armani’s late heroics kept River in contention, a reminder that one goalkeeper can tilt the balance in a tightly contested league. The performance, while imperfect, still highlighted the players’ commitment to securing points on the road, a quality that could prove pivotal in the tough schedule ahead. (Goal)
OBJECTIVES, VIDEOS AND CONTROVERSIES
- Armani, reminiscent of his prime form. The River goalkeeper faced a one-on-one scenario with Juan Álvarez and emerged as the evening’s standout figure at Florencio Sola.
- BANFIELD GOAL! Ignacio Rodríguez placed the ball emphatically, striking the crossbar and sending the ball inside, though a VAR review was still required to confirm the 1-1 equalizer.
- Armani again displayed authority, saving River’s goal on a Giménez header and keeping the encounter level during critical moments.
- RIVER GOAL! Nacho Fernández created space inside the box, with Solari finishing after a carom to open the scoring for 1-0.
- The crowd went wild as Remedi delivered a spectacular long-range effort that rattled the post, keeping the tension high throughout the match.
- From a remarkable save to a near-miss moment of misfortune, Armani nearly found an own goal in the early stages, a reminder of how quickly a game can swing on tiny margins.
- Beautiful Armani! Within the opening half-minute, the River keeper produced a sharp save following a deflection, setting a tone for the half that followed.