Liga Profesional
Deportivo Riestra held by Velez Sarsfield after late own goal salvages draw
Tomás González gave the home side the lead before Facundo Miño's late own goal ensured a share of the points in Buenos Aires.
Deportivo Riestra and Velez Sarsfield were denied a winner in a tightly contested Liga Profesional Argentina clash at Estadio Guillermo Laza, with the hosts settling for a 1-1 draw after a dramatic late own goal.
The first half offered few clear-cut chances, with both sides jealously guarding their defensive shape. Deportivo Riestra, operating under Guillermo Duró in a disciplined 5-3-2, looked to hit on the counter, while Velez Sarsfield’s 4-2-3-1 setup sought to impose control through the middle. Neither team managed to trouble the opposition goalkeeper before the break, and the whistle blew for halftime with the scores level at 0-0.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 54th minute when Tomás González found the net for Deportivo Riestra, capitalising on a well-weighted pass from Mariano Bracamonte. The home crowd responded with renewed energy, sensing an opportunity to press for a second goal.
Velez Sarsfield’s hopes of an immediate reply took a hit eight minutes later when Guillermo Barros Schelotto was shown a straight red card, leaving his side to navigate the remainder of the match with ten men. The sending-off shifted momentum firmly in Deportivo Riestra’s favour, and they pushed forward with increased urgency.
Despite their numerical advantage, the hosts struggled to convert possession into goals. Velez Sarsfield, though reduced to ten, remained organised and resolute, clearing danger after danger in and around their penalty area.
The drama arrived in the 76th minute when Facundo Miño, a Deportivo Riestra player, inadvertently sent the ball into his own net, gifting Velez Sarsfield a crucial away goal that breathed life into their comeback hopes.
With time running out, Deportivo Riestra threw everything forward in search of a winner, but Velez Sarsfield’s defensive efforts, spurred by their numerical disadvantage, held firm. The match ended 1-1, a fair reflection of a game defined by moments of individual error rather than sustained dominance.
The result leaves Deportivo Riestra in tenth place in Clausura - Group A with seven points from six matches, while Velez Sarsfield sit third with twelve points. Referee N. Arasa brought the contest to a close after an evenly poised 90 minutes, with both sides sharing the spoils in a match that will be remembered for its late twist.