River Plate's hopes of a smooth path to the knockout stages of the Club World Cup hit a bump on Saturday as they were held to a goalless draw by Mexico's Monterrey at the iconic Rose Bowl in Pasadena. With neither side finding the net, the draw leaves Group E up for grabs ahead of the final round.
From the first whistle, the match delivered drama off the pitch as much as on it, with 23 fouls in the opening 45 minutes alone. Referee checks yielded nine yellow cards and, in injury time, a red for Monterrey's Kevin Castano after a second booking, underlining the intensity of this clash of styles.
Monterrey struck first as former Spain international Sergio Canales sliced through River's defense in the 13th minute, only to be denied by a sharp save from Franco Armani. That early warning set the tone for a scrappy battle, punctuated by hard tackles and relentless pressing on both flanks.
River Plate responded with two gilt-edged chances before half-time. Midfielder Giuliano Galoppo found himself one-on-one at the edge of the box but whipped his effort just over the crossbar. Moments later, Martinez Quarta was equally wasteful, blazing a close-range chance wide after a clever corner flick.
In the second half, Argentina's defending champions turned up the heat. Teenager Franco Mastantuono – soon to join Real Madrid – tested Monterrey's keeper Esteban Andrada with a low drive in the 67th minute. Andrada, who once lined up for Boca Juniors, kept his composure and parried the shot away.
Substitute Miguel Borja almost broke the deadlock in the 76th minute, racing onto a perfectly timed through ball from Facundo Colidio. But Andrada was equal to Borja's goal-bound effort, ensuring both sides left without the win they craved.
The stalemate means River Plate and Italy's Inter Milan share the top of Group E with four points each, while Monterrey sit perilously close on two. Monterrey will take on Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds – already out of the running – in midweek, while River Plate face a showdown with Inter to decide who tops the section.
With the tournament's knockout stakes rising and tension at fever pitch, both teams know that a slip-up in the final pool match could spell an early exit. For River Plate, missing out on a clean sweep was a harsh reminder that even giants can struggle on unfamiliar ground.
As the dust settles, fans will be left debating whether this fiery draw was a missed opportunity or a battle-tested rehearsal for the high-octane matches that lie ahead.
Reference(s):
Goalless draw between River Plate, Monterrey features 9 yellows, 1 red
cgtn.com
