Unbelievable! Maravilla Martínez had Racing’s winner, but wouldn’t shoot | OneFootball

Maravilla Martínez had the chance to score the goal that would have saved Racing from elimination against Caracas, but he took too long to set himself and couldn’t get the shot away.

Racing were eliminated from the Copa Sudamericana after drawing 2-2 with Caracas this Thursday in Matchday 5 of the group stage. Gustavo Costas’ team had everything in place to secure a win that would have kept their hopes alive, including a golden chance near the end that Adrián Martínez failed to take.

In the 80th minute, just a few minutes after the visitors had equalized following an astonishing blunder by Matías Tagliamonte, Maravilla got the ball at his feet in the six-yard box after a great pass from Gastón Martirena and found himself alone in front of an open goal, since the goalkeeper and the opposing defense had followed Tomás Conechny, who let it run through.

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The entire Academia was already getting ready to celebrate the 3-2, but the top scorer of the Costas era did not dare shoot with his right foot, and while trying to shift it onto his left, his stronger foot, he was closed down by Christian Larotonda, who blocked the attempt.

That missed chance ended up being devastating, as it not only cost Racing the win, but also an early exit from a Sudamericana in which they had hoped to be one of the contenders for the title. A major letdown by Maravilla Martínez, hard to understand from a striker as ruthless as he is.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.