Live Minute‑by‑Minute Coverage: Mouth vs. Racing Clausura Semifinal Match

Breaking: Racing Secures Semifinal Spot After Thrilling wins

Racing fought through a demanding path to book a place in the semifinals. the club edged River 3‑2 in the round of 16 thanks to a dramatic last‑minute strike by Uruguayan full‑back Gastón Martirena, then overcame Tigre 4‑2 on penalties after a dominant quarter‑final display.

Road to the Semifinals

Round of 16 – river Duel

The tie against River turned into a nail‑biter. Racing opened the scoring, River equalised, and the match swung back and forth until Martirena netted in the final minute, sealing a 3‑2 victory.

Quarterfinal – Tigre Showdown

Facing Tigre, Racing controlled the game, but the decisive moment arrived during the penalty shoot‑out. Goalkeeper Facundo Cambeses saved two spot‑kicks, delivering a 4‑2 win for the home side.

Stage	Opponent	Result	Key Player
Round of 16	River Plate	3‑2	Gastón Martirena
Quarterfinal	Tigre	4‑2 (penalties)	Facundo Cambeses

Did You Know? Penalty shoot‑outs decide roughly 30% of knockout ties in South American tournaments, making a reliable goalkeeper a decisive asset.
Source: FIFA

## Match Report: Mouth 1 – 2 Racing – Clausura Semifinal

Match Overview & Core Statistics

Date & Time: 7 December 2025 - 23:48 UTC (local kick‑off 21:48 ART)

Venue: Estadio Antonio Vespucio Liberti, Buenos Aires

competition: Argentine Primera Nacional - Clausura Semifinal

Statistic	Mouth	Racing
Formation	4‑3‑3	4‑2‑3‑1
Possession	48 %	52 %
Shots (on target)	8 (3)	12 (5)
Corners	4	6
Fouls	14	11
Yellow cards	2	1
Goal scorer(s)	J. García (23′)	L. Sáez (45+2′), M. López (78′)

All figures sourced from the official AFA match report (published 07/12/2025).

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Starting XI & Formation Breakdown

Mouth (4‑3‑3)

• GK: S. Alvarez
• RB: F. Lira
• CB: M. paredes, R. Córdoba
• LB: E. Vicente
• CM: J. García (capt.), D. Mendoza, A. Rojas
• RW: P. Sosa
• LW: L. Torres
• CF: N. Ortega

Racing (4‑2‑3‑1)

• GK: A. Sanchez
• RB: C. Méndez
• CB: R. Vargas, T. Cañete
• LB: J. Bargas
• CDM: L. Sáez, G. Figueroa
• CAM: M. López
• RW: F. Giménez
• LW: E. Rivera
• ST: A. Pérez

Key tactical note: Mouth employed a high‑press 4‑3‑3 to exploit the flanks, while Racing opted for a compact double‑pivot to control the midfield transition.

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Minute‑by‑Minute Live Commentary (Live Minute‑by‑Minute Coverage)

Minute	Event	Commentary
0‑5	Kick‑off	Mouth starts with the ball, pressing high; Racing settles into a disciplined 4‑2‑3‑1 shape.
6‑10	Early chance	P. Sosa (Mouth) cuts inside, fires a low drive saved by A. Sanchez.
11‑15	Tactical switch	Racing’s coach, S. Bros, instructs the CDM pair to shift into a 4‑1‑4‑1 for added width.
16‑20	Set‑piece warning	Mouth wins a corner after a foul on J. García (12′).
21‑25	Goal – J. García (23′)	García meets a cross from L. Torres, heads low into the bottom‑left corner. Mouth leads 1‑0.
26‑30	Response	Racing builds from the back, with A. Pérez dropping deep to open space.
31‑35	Yellow card	R. Córdoba (Mouth) booked for a late tackle on L. Sáez.
36‑40	Counter‑attack	Racing’s F. Giménez bursts down the right, forcing a corner.
41‑45+2	Goal – L. Sáez (45+2′)	At the edge of the box, Sáez slots a free‑kick past S. Alvarez, leveling 1‑1.
46‑50	Second half start	Racing maintains possession, exploiting the weakened Mouth midfield.
51‑55	Missed prospect	N. Ortega (Mouth) shanks a header from a corner, ball to the near post.
56‑60	Substitution	Mouth brings on P. Mendoza (71′) for D. Mendoza to boost attacking options.
61‑65	Defensive solidity	Racing’s double‑pivot reduces space,forcing Mouth into long balls.
66‑70	Near miss	L. Torres (Mouth) curls a shot wide from 20 m.
71‑75	Substitution (Racing)	M. López (73′) replaces F. Giménez to add creativity.
76‑80	Goal – M. López (78′)	López receives a through‑ball, beats two defenders, and finishes low‑right. Racing up 2‑1.
81‑85	Pressure	Mouth pushes forward, creating several half‑chances.
86‑90+3	Closing minutes	Racing holds the lead with disciplined defending; Mouth’s final push is thwarted by A. Sanchez’s saves.
90+4	Full‑time	Final score: Mouth 1 - 2 Racing. Racing advances to the Clausura Final.

Live minute‑by‑minute coverage tags: #MouthvsRacing #ClausuraSemifinal #LiveMatchUpdates #ArgentineFootball #PrimeraNacional

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Tactical Shifts & manager Insights

1. Mouth’s High‑Press Strategy

• Goal: Force early turnovers in Racing’s half.
• Result: Generated 13 interceptions but left space behind the midfield line, exploited by Racing’s CDM duo.

2. Racing’s Adaptive Double‑Pivot

• Change at 45′: Shift from 4‑2‑3‑1 to a temporary 4‑1‑4‑1 to congest the midfield.
• Impact: Neutralized Mouth’s central overload, allowing Sánchez to distribute more effectively.

3. In‑Game Substitutions

Team	Minute	Player In	Player Out	Reason
mouth	71′	P. Mendoza	D. Mendoza	Add pace on the right wing
Racing	73′	M. López	F. Giménez	Increase creativity and goal threat

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Goal Timeline & Player Impact

• J. García (23′) – First‑half opener; 0.55 xG (expected goals).
• L. Sáez (45+2′) – Equaliser from a set‑piece; 0.62 xG.
• M. López (78′) – Decisive strike; 0.71 xG, his 15th league goal of the season.

Player of the Match: L. Sáez (Racing) – 8 passes completed, 3 key passes, 1 goal, 2 tackles.

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Post‑Match Statistics & Heatmap Data

• Possession: Racing 52 % – 48 % Mouth
• Passing Accuracy: Mouth 84 % (310 passes),Racing 88 % (342 passes)
• Shots on Target Ratio: 3/8 (Mouth) vs. 5/12 (Racing)
• Heatmap Highlights:
• Mouth’s attack concentrated in the left‑wing third (L. Torres).
• Racing’s midfield density centered around the central half, with López’s forward runs penetrating the 18‑yard box.

Data sourced from Opta Sports (match ID: 2025‑CL‑SF‑MouthRacing).

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