Overview
- River Plate was eliminated from the Copa Sudamericana after a penalty shootout loss to Independiente Santa Fe in which goalkeeper Santiago Beltrán missed his own kick.
- Beltrán also saved three spot kicks in the same shootout, later apologized to fans for his missed penalty, and said the squad remains united and focused on the season ahead.
- Ubaldo 'Pato' Fillol published a public video defending Beltrán, offering a technical reading that the keeper slipped and mis‑positioned his body on the shot.
- Fillol placed the miss in historical context by naming other top players who have failed decisive penalties and urged River supporters to back the young keeper.
- Fans broadly defended Beltrán despite memes on social media, and the club now faces a short-term test of morale as it seeks to protect the goalkeeper's confidence and move on competitively.