River Plate and Monterrey keep the suspense in Cristi Chivu's group: the ranking before the last stage

Ashley Davis22/06/2025

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Article by Maria Olteanu – published on Sunday, June 22, 2025, 07:42 / Updated on Sunday, June 22, 2025 07:45

River Plate and Monterrey finished in a draw, score 0-0, in a match in the second stage of the phase of the World Club Championship, on Sunday morning, in the same group, also part of Cristi Chivu (44 years old).

The Romanian formation won a dramatic victory, score 2-1, Against Urawa Red Diamonds, who propelled her in the first position in Group E, with one stage before the end of this phase.

Thus, the fight for the first two places in the group remains open until the end, the legendary Argentine team missing the opportunity to follow the example of Botafogo and Bayern Munich, who have already ensured their qualification in the elimination phases.

Cristi Chivu, given by the players' goal »what he did at Inter immediately after installing as a coach

Only equal in the other match of Chivu's group

The Argentinians had the first opportunity for the match on Sunday morning, Paulo Diaz being close to opening the score in the 5th minute, when he resumed with his head, according to Sportal.bg.

The Mexicans quickly replied with an offensive action completed with a strong but imprecise shot by Lucas Ocampos, from a distance, which did not cause River's goalkeeper, Franco Armani.

The situation repeated eight minutes later, when the Argentinian midfielders were surprised, and channels were strongly out of the box, after an individual race. This time, Armani was forced to stretch seriously to reject, and at Arta's deviated shot, the luck was smiling, the ball passing over the transverse.

As the game phases did not bring success, the players resorted to fixed blows. The first to have the opportunity were the Argentinians, who won a free kick in the 27th minute. Franco Mastantuono executed dangerously, but Monterrey's goalkeeper, Esteban Andrada, intervened Salvator.

In the extensions of the first half, River created panic again in the opponent, this time after a corner, to which the defense of the Mexicans reacted heavy, being saved by luck.

Immediately after the break, the Mexicans continued with unnecessary faults, and Ocampos intervened at an opponent near the box. Franco Mastantuono executed the free kick, but the ball reached Andrada's arms.

Occasions of goal and only 0-0

At one hour of play, the Argentinians had one of the biggest occasions of the second half, after Andrada escaped the ball at Acuna's center, but Arteaga rejected at the last moment, before the ball passed the gate line.

Although the Mexicans had more time, their opponents continued to create dangerous opportunities, and in the middle of the second half, Andrada was forced to intervene again, after a dangerous shot by Kevin Castano on the edge of the box.

The scenario was repeated in the 76th minute, after a speed penetration of Miguel Borja, completed with a diagonal shot inside the box.

The Mexican goalkeeper remained undefeated in the last ten minutes of the regular time, when River benefited from a series of corners.

In extensions, the tension has increased, and some players from River Plate lost their temper, the most obvious example being Kevin Castano, who received the second yellow card for a reckless entrance at the beginning of an opponent counterattack.

Finally, this was also the last notable phase of the match, the score remaining unchanged, 0-0. In the last stage, River Plate will meet Inter, while Monterrey will face Urawa Red Diamonds. Both matches will take place on June 26 (Thursday), from 4:00, Romania time, and will play simultaneously, their denomination being crucial in the fight for qualification in the eliminatory phases.