El Millonario led twice and turned Chila Gómez into a star, but Fortín leveled the score and the title race stayed open.
The date was set at River’s request: among the contenders for the title, only Talleres won, and even San Lorenzo, their closest pursuer, fell to Barracas Central. A victory would have cut the gap to eight points with nine rounds remaining, but the advantage wasn’t held twice and Vélez eventually equalized at 2–2.
With two strikers on the field again, Borja as the reference and Solari cutting in from the wing, the Millionaire dominated possession and produced the most dangerous chances, quickly turning Chila Gómez into the match’s standout figure with several superb saves, including a sharp stop on Barco’s shot. When Gómez prevented Sicario Rojas’ shot from a corner, the Paraguayan himself capitalized on the rebound to score.
José Amalfitani Stadium became a furnace as a team that had not tasted victory in two months answered the call at the start of the second half with a masterclass in velocity and the timeless law of the first goal, a moment embodied by a Madrid-hero like Lucas Pratto for the equalizer.
From there the action intensified, with rapid counters and a moment that seemed destined to settle everything: Kranevitter fed Herrera on the wing and Lucas Beltrán, who had just entered, directed a precise header. But joy was short-lived as Pancho Ortega, from the left, crossed in a shot that Armani could only watch as it sealed the 2–2 scoreline.
In the final minutes River pressed for a winner but failed to find clarity in the box, settling for a 2–2 that left them six points ahead of their chaser yet unable to extend that margin, in what could have been a turning point in a remarkable match that carried heavy implications.
The Binance Professional League Tournament 2023 schedule and results overview.
Next: GOAL brings you the action live.
VÉLEZ – RIVER PLATE, MINUTE-BY-MINUTE
- The minute-by-minute action between the Fortín and the Millionaire.
- VÉLEZ GOAL! Ortega struck with a left-footed shot to make it 2-2.
- RIVER TARGET! Kranevitter chipped the ball, Herrera shot on target and Beltrán headed in the 2-1.
- VÉLEZ GOAL! They built a sweeping attack and Pratto finished it for a 1-1 tie.
- RIVER TARGET! El Sicario initially failed to beat Gómez, but the rebound found the back of the net.
- The Fortín, desperate for a win, kept pushing.
- River confirmed without Enzo Pérez, with Borja as the starting forward and Echeverri in reserve.
- Good evening and welcome to another GOAL broadcast. Vélez hosts River Plate on date 18 of the Binance 2023 tournament at José Amalfitani Stadium.
THE TARGET EXAMPLE
HOW TO WATCH LIVE ON TV AND STREAMING
The Fortín and the Millionaire clash in Argentina is broadcast on ESPN Premium, available to subscribers with the football package from local cable providers.
ESPN PREMIUM
FORMATIONS
VELEZ
Gaston Gómez; Tomas Guidara, Lautaro Giannetti, Diego Godin, Francisco Ortega; Damian Fernandez, Christian Ordonez, Elias Cabrera; Gianluca Prestianni, Lucas Janson; Luke Prato. DT: Ricardo Gareca.
RIVER PLATE
Franco Armani; Andrés Herrera, Leandro González Pirez, Robert Rojas, Milton Casco; Rodrigo Aliendro; Ignacio Fernández, Nicolas de la Cruz, Ezequiel Barco; Pablo Solari, Miguel Borja. DT: Martin Demichelis.