Club Atlético River Plate was eliminated from the Copa Sudamericana by Independiente Santa Fe in a dramatic penalty shootout at the Estadio Monumental. Uruguayan forward Franco Fagúndez, who scored the 1-1 equalizer in the second leg, was a key figure in the Colombian team's victory and revealed a difficult personal struggle he overcame. The information was originally reported by El Comercio PE Deporte Total this week.
The elimination comes at a complicated time for the team from Núñez, which sits in 14th place in the Liga Profesional Argentina with just 4 points after six matchdays. Their record is one win, one draw, and four losses, with a -2 goal difference after scoring 4 and conceding 6. In their last league match on August 23rd, River Plate drew 2-2 with Vélez Sarsfield.
How did River Plate get eliminated?
Independiente Santa Fe secured their place in the Copa Sudamericana quarter-finals after 180 very evenly-matched minutes. In the second leg played in Buenos Aires, River Plate could not defend an early lead, and Fagúndez scored the equalizer that forced the penalty shootout. There, the Uruguayan player converted his spot-kick, decisively contributing to the elimination of the millionaires. This result adds to an irregular streak in the domestic league, where the team has two wins, one draw, and two losses in their last five games.
What did Franco Fagúndez reveal about his past?
In post-match comments, Franco Fagúndez recounted the difficult personal moment he went through last year. "I went through a lot of things. A year ago I was depressed," stated the footballer. He detailed that in 2025 he suffered a serious knee injury that required surgery, was playing for Santos Laguna in Mexico, and faced a series of accumulated personal problems. "It was many things. Everything bad and all at once," added Fagúndez, mentioning the death of a friend and family complications. His return to a high level and his goal against River Plate mark a point of personal triumph.
What is River Plate's current context?
The Copa Sudamericana elimination is a hard blow to the club's international aspirations in 2026. In the Liga Profesional, River Plate is 9 points behind the leaders, Argentinos JRS, highlighting the need for a quick reaction. The team has a busy schedule ahead to climb the table, starting with their next fixture. You can check the team's evolution and its squad on our stats page and the current roster.
What's next for the team?
River Plate's immediate focus must turn entirely to the Liga Profesional Argentina. Their next match is against Banfield on August 30th, an opponent sitting in 11th place. It's a key opportunity to get three points and start climbing the league standings. The coaching staff must work on defensive solidity, given the team has conceded 6 goals so far this season, and on recovering offensive effectiveness. Planning for the upcoming matches, which you can follow on our fixtures page, will be crucial to right the course after this double sporting frustration.
