A controversial and discussed penalty turned into a goal at 92 minutes by Fernando Zampedri in the Libertadores Cup gave this Tuesday a long-suffering victory by 2-1 to Catholic University before a Sporting Crystal who sold dearly the defeat at the San Carlos de Apoquindo stadium.
The key play of the match occurred in the 91st minute when, coming out of a corner, the referee of the match, the Uruguayan Leodán González, perceived the hand of a Peruvian defender after a header in the area by the Argentine Nehuén Paz, who probably not only saved his team but also the head of his coach, the also criticized Cristian Paulucci.
The play, very unclear, unleashed the protests of the Peruvians, in particular Nilson Loyola, who received a yellow card, but it was not reviewed since in the group stage, and without knowing very well why, there is no VAR . Zampedri took the ball and placed it powerfully in the top corner, where the goalkeeper could not reach, although he guessed his intention.
Until then, the game had gone along the paths that were least convenient for the local team, which still managed to get ahead on the scoreboard, also in added time, but in the first half.
A great goal from Marcelino Núñez, who hit a volley to the top corner from more than thirty meters on a ball that fell to him in the rain after a defender rejected the first intentional shot from outside the area by his teammate Leiva.
However, the joy of the crusaders, who are not going through a good moment of play and results, faded late in the second half when a mistake in the area from a corner allowed Cristal to equalize.
Yotún placed it at the near post, then Merlo got ahead of his rivals to brush it back and Nilson Loyola only had to push the net over the line, stuck to the far post.
With this victory, the Católica adds its first victory in the so-called group of death and is tied on three points with Talleres Córdoba -who defeated them on the first day- and with Flamengo, who face each other today in Brazil.
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