The five-time Copa Libertadores champion Penarol tied 0-0 in the second leg and reached the semifinals of the tournament this Thursday after eliminating the Flamengo. A week after their ‘Maracanazo’ in Rio de Janeiro, Diego Aguirre’s eleven stood up to the rival onslaught and managed to seal a goalless draw that gave value to their 0-1 victory in the first 90 minutes of the series .
In this way, the Uruguayans will once again play a tie that they last played in the 2011 season, in which they reached the final after leaving the Argentine Vélez Sarsfield behind. On this occasion, his rival on duty will be the Brazilian Botafogo, who also got into the top four after 51 years without being able to do so and dreams of winning for the first time a title that his next rival will try to win after 37 years.
Behind on the scoreboard after already losing in the first leg, Flamengo came out determined to quickly find a goal that would allow them to equalize the series. Tite’s men dominated the actions and took almost complete control of the ball, although they had many problems translating that into dangerous situations. Gerson, Gonzalo Plata and Bruno Henrique moved throughout the attacking front and tried to complicate a defense that was firm.
Méndez (Peñarol) disputes a ball with Bruno Henrique Pinto (Flamengo)
The Ecuadorian brought his team closer with a header that ended up in the hands of goalkeeper Washington Aguerre, while Giorgian de Arrascaeta wasted a good opportunity with a shot that went over the horizontal. On the other side, Peñarol opted for the counterattack, but could do little in that way. Their clearest option came through a direct free kick from Leonardo Ferández that Agustín Rossi sent to the corner kick.
In the second half, Flamengo dominated with the Uruguayan Nicolás de la Cruz and the full-backs playing as two more attackers. However, his errors in passing and the difficulties in finding his attackers meant that the visitor was never able to complicate Aguerre. Peñarol stood firmly at the bottom, held on without major problems and got the 0-0 they needed to return to the semifinals after thirteen years.
Read also
The end of the match unleashed even more euphoria among the fans who filled the Campeón del Siglo stadium, who encouraged their team non-stop and who continue dreaming of the sixth Libertadores.
TECHNICAL SHEET
0 – Penarol: Washington Aguerre; Pedro Milans, Javier Méndez, Guzmán Rodríguez, Maximiliano Olivera; Damián García, Eduardo Darias (m.90, Gastón Ramírez); Javier Cabrera (m.67, Leonardo Sequeira), Leonardo Ferández, Jaime Báez (m.67, Lucas Hernández) and Maximiliano Silvera (m.77, Facundo Batista)
Coach: Diego Aguirre
0 – Flamengo: Agustín Rossi, Guillermo Varela (m.59, Wesley), Fabricio Bruno (m.83, David Luiz), Léo Pereira, Alex Sandro (m.74, Ayrton Lucas); Léo Ortiz (d.83, Matheus), Nicolás De la Cruz, Gerson, Giorgian de Arrascaeta; Bruno Henrique and Gonzalo Plata (m.59, Gabriel Barbosa)
Coach: Tite
Referee: The Argentine Facundo Tello. He admonished Gonzalo Plata and Léo Ortiz
Incidents: Match corresponding to the quarterfinals of the Copa Libertadores, played at the Campeón del Siglo stadium, in Montevideo.
