Steimbach Stuns River Plate as Gimnasia Snatch 1-0 Win

Gimnasia L.P. 1-0 River Plate: Clausura Shocker at El Bosque

Alexis Steimbach’s 80th-minute stunner ignited delirium at the Juan Carmelo Zerillo as Gimnasia L.P. snatched a 1-0 victory over title-chasing River Plate in a Clausura match that defied all logic. Against 74% possession and relentless pressure, Mariano Messera’s men wrote a defensive masterclass before delivering the sucker punch that leaves Argentina’s giants reeling.

River Plate’s Possession Without Punch

The script seemed set from kickoff. River Plate’s midfield trio of Lucas Silva and Mauro Arambarri pinged 537 passes at 88% accuracy, reducing Gimnasia to just 26% possession. But for all their territorial dominance, Eduardo Coudet’s side managed just 0.30 xG – their attacks crashing against a blue wall led by the colossal Renzo Giampaoli. Nicolás Otamendi’s 79th-minute yellow card – hauling down Agustín Auzmendi – summed up their mounting frustration.

Gimnasia’s Moment of Magic

Then, with 10 minutes left, the miracle. Mateo Zalazar – Gimnasia’s livewire substitute – drove forward before sliding a pass through the legs of Lucas Martínez Quarta. Steimbach, who’d chased shadows all night, suddenly found daylight and lashed a rising shot past Santiago Beltrán at his near post. The 40,000 in El Bosque erupted in disbelieving joy, Zalazar’s yellow card moments later for timewasting only heightening the theater.

What This Means for Both Teams

For River Plate, this isn’t just a bad day – it’s a crisis. Despite fielding Ángel Correa and Lucas Beltrán, they’ve now won just once in five. The stats scream impotence: 10 shots but only 3 on target. For Gimnasia, this could be the spark that reignites their season. Steimbach’s goal – their only shot on target in the second half – came from their 1.94 xG, proving efficiency trumps aesthetics. As the Clausura heats up, the underdogs have served notice: nobody’s safe in Argentina’s cauldron.

Key Moments

80′ ⚽ Gimnasia L.P. — A. Steimbach (assist: M. Zalazar)

🔮 Before kick-off: our match preview & prediction.