A goal by Vitor Roque in the 96th minute gave Athletico Paranaense a 0-1 away win against Estudiantes de La Plata last night and thus achieved the last place in the semifinals of the Copa Libertadores.
A precise header from the entered striker allowed the visiting team to score the only goal of the series and access the semifinal where they will face Palmeiras, who has just eliminated his compatriot Atlético Mineiro on penalties.
Estudiantes was the one that made the most wear and tear since the start of the game in search of the difference after having achieved a goalless draw in the match played last Thursday at the Arena da Baixada.
With a very agile Pablo Piatti and a Fernando Zuqui dominating the midfield, the locals opted to reach Bento’s goal with Leandro Díaz as a great reference in the area.
Those led by Luiz Felipe Scolari withdrew into their field and bet on the counterattack or reaching the difference on the scoreboard due to a stopped ball.
Before halftime, the locals had three clear through a shot by Agustín Rogel that went close to the post, another shot by Jorge Morel that had a good intervention by Bento and another header by Rogel that went just above the crossbar.
The break allowed Athletico Paranaense to recompose their idea of the game and in the first minutes of the second half they showed their best version with a more accompanied Pablo on offense.
At 63 minutes came the first big controversy of the night in La Plata because Luciano Lollo converted after a header he had hit the post, but the Uruguayan referee Andrés Matonte, at the request of the VAR, annulled the goal by ratifying that Jorge Morel in forward position obstructed goalkeeper Bento.
After this action, Estudiantes did not find many emotional and soccer arguments but they still went in search of the winning goal, while Paranaense withdrew and opted for the definition by penalties to get a ticket to the Copa Libertadores semifinals.
Jorge Rodríguez had the clearest chance for the locals in a great individual play that ended with a deflected shot and the Uruguayan player Mauro Méndez had another option in a one-on-one that he defined outside.
When the die seemed cast and penalties were inevitable, one last play appeared in the sixth minute of added time that ended with a cross that Vitor Roque headed in anticipation of Mariano Andújar to inflate the net.
After several reviews in the VAR to check if the scorer of the night scored with his hand or in a legal way, referee Matonte validated the goal and allowed the visit to pass to the semifinals to ratify the presence of three Brazilian teams in the definition of the match. 2022 edition of the Copa Libertadores.
Athletico Paranaense and Palmeiras will define a finalist, while Flamengo and Vélez Sarsfield will contribute the other to the decisive match of this continental competition that will be played on October 29 at the Monumental stadium in Guayaquil.
