River Plate edges past Lanus with Miguel Borja’s late winner

River Plate secures vital win in Apertura as Borja scores decisive goal.

River Plate's Miguel Borja scores the team's second goal at Estadio Mas Monumental in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on May 14, 2024. Photo by Agustin Marcarian/Reuters

By Randy Ahmad and Adila Ghina

River Plate secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Lanus in the Apertura tournament of the Argentine Primera Division on Sunday, thanks to a second-half goal from Miguel Borja. The win moved River to third place in Group B with 12 points, level with Independiente, who have a game in hand, and just two points behind leaders Rosario Central.

“The win was the most important thing; we’re still looking for a good style of play,” River Plate goalkeeper Franco Armani told TNT Sports. “In the second half, we saw a different side to the team, and that’s what we want—picking up three points.”

River Plate dominates but struggles to convert chances

River Plate created several scoring opportunities in the first half but failed to break the deadlock. Facundo Colidio came close with a powerful long-range strike that rattled the crossbar, while Gonzalo Martinez narrowly missed the target just before halftime.

Lanus, on the other hand, had a promising opportunity in the 34th minute when Walter Bou found himself in front of goal, but Armani made a crucial save to keep the match level.

Nine minutes into the second half, River Plate thought they had taken the lead when Giuliano Galoppo fired a low shot past the goalkeeper. However, the goal was disallowed after Gonzalo Montiel was ruled offside in the build-up.

Borja scores decisive goal but misses late penalty

River Plate finally broke through in the 77th minute. A defensive clearance ricocheted off River’s Maximiliano Meza and fell into the path of substitute Miguel Borja, who slotted the ball home for his first goal of the season.

The 32-year-old Colombian forward had a chance to double River’s lead in the 84th minute after winning a penalty, but he sent his shot over the crossbar.

Lanus pressed for an equalizer in the closing minutes, forcing Armani into action once again. The veteran goalkeeper made key stops in stoppage time to deny captain Carlos Izquierdoz and Alexis Canelo, ensuring River Plate secured all three points.

River Plate climbs the table while Lanus struggles

With the victory, River Plate moved up to third in Group B, keeping pace with the top teams in the Apertura standings. Meanwhile, Lanus, who now sit in eighth place with seven points, will need to improve their form to stay in the race for a higher finish.

“We have to keep it up. I try to respond when the team needs me—that’s what the goalkeeper is there for. Overall, it was a good game,” Armani said after the match.

River Plate, Argentina’s most successful club, will look to build on this momentum when they face San Martin on Saturday.