Athletico Paranaense defeats Estudiantes in the discount and goes to the semifinals of the Libertadores

The Brazilian Athletico Paranaense advanced to the semifinals of the 2022 Copa Libertadores by beating the Argentinian Estudiantes by 1-0 (partial 0-0), in the revenge of the quarterfinals played this Thursday at the Uno stadium in this city.

Vitor Roque (90+6) scored the only goal of the seriesin injury time and after several controversial actions, in an emotional definition.

Thus, Athletico Paranaense will face in search of the grand final against the Brazilian Palmeirascurrent two-time champion of the tournament, who has just eliminated Atlético Mineiro on penalties, in a Libertadores that will have three Brazilian teams in search of the title, and Vélez Sarsfield as the only Argentine representative.

The equality in Curitiba had left the series open, perhaps with a slight favoritism for Estudiantes, who had the possibility of closing the key at home, and within this panorama it was Pincha was the most ambitious, even with its limitations.

The Argentine team had a couple of chances in the first few minutes, first with a cross from Godoy that Castro defined as uncomfortable, and then with an air shipment that Morel was waiting for, but Pedro Henrique saved with an in extremis cross.

With the rise of Godoy and Más on the sides, and with the mobility of Castro and PIatti inside, Students began to exercise dominance, while Hugo Moura redoubled his effort in the middle, with a harmless attack, since Canobbio did not appear in the visit, nor did Neck and Pablo go down to receive them, who were left isolated.

Khellven tried to surprise with a closed free kick, but goalkeeper Andújar was attentive, and then the locals responded with a deflected shot by Rogel from a good position, a touch by Morel that Bento took out with a reflexive swipe, and a high header by Rogel inside the small area.

– On the last move –

Paranaense tried to stop a little later in the second half, more consistent in his proposal and at his own pace, and so he had another chance when a rebound inside the local area was served to Neck, who looked for the left corner, but the ball came out very little.

There was no lack of controversy at night, because Students claimed a possible penalty against Zuqui that the referee Matonte did not consider, and then Lollo sent the ball into the net after the rebound in a poste, but between the VAR and the Uruguayan judge they considered that Morel was offside and interfered with goalkeeper Bento.

In the 90th minute, Estudiantes would have the last favorable situationin a great pass by Morel into the void for Méndez’s escape, which he defined crossed just outside before Bento’s desperate exit.

The duel seemed to be heading for penaltiesbut in the sixth minute of injury time, and at the exit of a corner kick, Terans enabled Vitinho, who made space inside the area and sent a cross for the arrival of the youthful Vitor Roque, who headed alone before the exit of Andújar to send the ball into the net and unleash the Brazilian celebration.

As expected in a very even and intense series, the resolution came with the minimum, in the plenary session that Paranaense hit at the last minute, but with a Estudiantes that felt harmed by the referee’s decisions and that left them without the dream of going in search of the Cup for the fifth time in its history .