By Sachit Subba • Football • Jun 22, 2025 03:45 AM • 94 views
In a fiercely contested Group E showdown at the iconic Rose Bowl, Monterrey held off a late River Plate siege to grind out a gritty 0-0 draw, keeping both clubs alive in the race to reach the knockout stage of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. In a match marked more by tension than fluency, it was Monterrey goalkeeper Esteban Andrada who emerged as the unquestioned hero. With a string of critical second-half saves—including key stops from Franco Mastantuono and Miguel Borja—Andrada ensured that the Liga MX giants left Pasadena with a precious point against a River Plate side brimming with attacking intent.
đź”’ Andrada the Wall
The Argentine shot-stopper was impenetrable on the night, producing his finest moment late in the game when he denied Borja one-on-one after already turning away Mastantuono's curling effort from inside the area. Time and again, Andrada read River Plate's intentions, staying composed under immense pressure and pulling off the kind of performance that defines tournaments.
🌪️ Tense, Tactical, and Testy
The match never fully hit the attacking heights fans may have hoped for, but what it lacked in goals, it made up for in intensity. River Plate looked the more progressive side throughout, carving out the better chances with sharp interplay from young star Mastantuono and Giuliano Galoppo.
Lucas Martinez Quarta missed a golden opportunity late in the first half, volleying wide from close range, while Arteaga's goal-line clearance kept Monterrey alive early in the second.
But River's growing frustration spilt over in stoppage time when midfielder Kevin Castaño was sent off for a second yellow card, halting a promising Monterrey counter and leaving his team to finish the match shorthanded.
đź“Š Group E Implications
The draw leaves River Plate level on four points with Inter Milan, while Monterrey sit two points behind with two draws from two games. The Argentines face a decisive final-day clash against the Italians in Seattle, while Monterrey will look to claim their first win against already-eliminated Urawa Red Diamonds back at the Rose Bowl. With everything still to play for, Group E remains one of the most balanced—and explosive—sections of the tournament.
Quote of the Night:
"We knew it was going to be a war, and sometimes, you just need to survive. Esteban gave us that tonight," Monterrey head coach Fernando Ortiz said post-match, summing up the mood inside a relieved Rayados camp.
Up Next:
📍 River Plate vs Inter Milan — Wednesday, Seattle
📍 Monterrey vs Urawa Red Diamonds — Wednesday, Pasadena
As knockout dreams hang in the balance, expect fireworks in the final round.
