Barracas Central Rescue Point in Dramatic Derby Draw

Rodrigo Insua’s stoppage-time penalty earned Barracas Central a crucial 1-1 draw against Deportivo Riestra in a heated Liga Profesional clash at Estadio Claudio Chiqui Tapia.

The result maintains Riestra’s position in third place on 29 points, whilst Barracas Central climb to 24 points in sixth, closing the gap on their Buenos Aires rivals to just five points after 17 matches.

Riestra looked set to claim all three points after Alexis Alonso’s well-taken 24th-minute opener gave the visitors a deserved lead at the break. The goal capped an impressive first-half display from the higher-ranked side, who came into the match with superior form despite recent wobbles.

The encounter grew increasingly fractious as the second half progressed, with referee Bruno Amiconi brandishing nine yellow cards across both sides. The turning point came in the 73rd minute when Riestra thought they had doubled their advantage through Jonathan Herrera, only for VAR to disallow the effort for a foul.

That controversy proved costly for Riestra, who had been managing the game effectively until the dying moments. With the clock showing 90 minutes and four already added, Barracas were awarded a penalty that Rodrigo Insua converted with aplomb to spark wild celebrations amongst the home support.

The draw represents a missed opportunity for Riestra, whose recent form of two defeats and a draw in their last five matches has seen them slip from potential title contenders to merely solid top-half performers. Their points-per-game average of 1.75 remains respectable, but momentum appears to be shifting.

For Barracas Central, the point feels like a victory given the circumstances. Manager’s tactical changes proved crucial, with Roberto Barrios introduced at half-time before a flurry of substitutions in the final third helped turn the tide.

Both sides now sit comfortably in the upper reaches of the 30-team Liga Profesional table, though this result may prove more psychologically significant for the hosts than the visitors.