River Plate’s Penalty Woes Continue as Salas Misses Crucial Spot-Kick

River Plate’s ongoing issues with converting penalties have once again come to the forefront, this time with Maxi Salas missing a crucial spot-kick against Blooming. The incident not only prevented River from potentially taking the lead but also highlighted a persistent problem that has plagued the club over the past year and a half.

A Missed Opportunity

The opportunity arose in the first half of the match against Blooming when River Plate was awarded a penalty. Tomás Galván was fouled inside the area, and Maxi Salas stepped up to take the responsibility. However, his left-footed shot struck the post, ricocheting away and leaving the scoreline unchanged. This miss extended River’s troubling streak of inefficiency from 12 yards.

The Grim Statistics

Since February 2025, River Plate has faced 15 penalties within the 90 minutes of matches, converting only seven. This means they have missed an alarming eight penalties, a conversion rate of less than 50%. This statistic paints a stark picture of their struggles from the spot, impacting their ability to secure vital goals.

Individual Struggles

Several players have contributed to this negative trend. Miguel Ángel Borja has been the most frequent offender, missing three penalties during this period. His misses include attempts against Lanús, Ciudad de Bolívar, and Gimnasia. While Borja has also scored penalties, such as his successful conversion against Vélez, his overall record from the spot has been inconsistent.

Juanfer Quintero has also experienced misfortune, with his penalties being saved by opposing goalkeepers Hernán Galíndez of Huracán and Lucas Bruera of Carabobo. Sebastián Driussi is another player to have had a penalty saved, this time by David Contreras of Barcelona de Ecuador.

Rare Successes

Amidst the struggles, there have been moments of success. Franco Mastantuono stands out as a reliable penalty taker, having converted both of his opportunities from the spot against Independiente del Valle and Platense. Facundo Colidio also broke his duck with a successful penalty against Central in the Apertura semi-finals, having previously seen his teammate, Cachete Montiel, have a penalty saved in the same match by Jeremías Ledesma.

Montiel himself had a strong record from penalties, converting two earlier in the period before his miss against Central. This recent miss marked his first unsuccessful penalty within regulation time in his career.

Implications for River Plate

The continued inability to convert penalties poses a significant challenge for River Plate. In tight matches, a missed penalty can be the difference between a win and a draw, or a draw and a loss. As the team navigates various competitions, improving their penalty-taking accuracy will be crucial for their success. The recurring nature of this issue suggests a need for deeper analysis and perhaps a change in approach to spot-kicks.

Datos clave

Fuente: Ole (https://www.ole.com.ar/river-plate/river-penal-blooming-errado-salas-racha-ineficacia_0_Yl7G7ffY5G.html)