The Ecuadorians eliminated Sao Paulo on penalties after losing 1-0 in regulation time in a show of resistance
Those from Ceará took the Brazilian duel leaving América Mineiro out after defeating it 2-1
League of Quitowith a man less during the entire second half for the expulsion of Alexander Alvaradoentrenched, resisted and won the penalty shootout, 4-5, against São Pauloto get into the semifinals of the Copa Sudamericana, where they will face Defensa y Justicia from Argentina.
The São Paulo team managed to equalize the tie in regulation time (1-0), but stayed on the shore on their way to repeat the 2022 final due to a mistake from eleven meters by James Rodríguez, hero and villain tonight in the Morumbi. The Colombian midfielder assisted Ecuadorian Robert Arboleda from the corner, who scored the only goal of the match with a header in the 77th minute to take the decision to the lottery on penalties, after the 1-2 defeat in Quito. Liga de Quito scared the counterattack, knew how to suffer from inferiority during the second stage and was impeccable in the penalty shootout. Five out of five, with the Peruvian Paolo Guerrero as one of the scorers.
The São Paulo coach, Dorival Junior, did not start with the magical quartet, as expected. James sat on the bench and the trio made up of Calleri, Luciano and Lucas Moura, the best of the Paulistas, came onto the field. The first chances for the Brazilians were wasted precisely by Luciano and Calleri, now thick in the area, something rare for the Argentine striker.
LDU did not sit idly by. The counterattack and the loss of time to scratch any second off the clock were the weapons of those led by the Argentine Luis Zubeldía. In this strategy, Jhojan Julio stood out above the rest, a physical marvel who did not stop creating problems for the rival defense. The hitch starred in a solo run from midfield that ended in a shot close to the post that Rafael answered brilliantly. But it is that before, in the first minute, the Brazilian goalkeeper pulled another good save from Alvarado’s dry shot. Guerrero also did a good job holding possession from behind, one of his specialties.
São Paulo gave itself body and soul to Lucas Moura. The former Tottenham player, back home, is one step above the rest of his teammates, who even got in the way of some dangerous play. However, his spark was not enough to beat Alexander Domínguez in the first half.
The second half started with a favorable wind for the Brazilians after the expulsion of Alvarado for an ugly tackle on Alisson’s ankle. In inferiority, the Universitarios locked themselves up to endure the downpour.
It was Alisson himself who led the local offensive with a kick from the top of the area that crashed into the post. Arboleda, alone in the area, sent the rejection to the clouds. The goal did not arrive and Dorival called James Rodríguez, a specialist in short spaces, with half an hour to go. But the goal did not come. Anxiety began to take over the Brazilians. Calleri surprisingly missed a pass from the dead inside the six-yard box. And as panic ran rampant through the stands, James served up a perfect corner kick for Grove, between three adversaries, will finish off with a header. Adé’s deflection misled Domínguez, who grazed the ball before slipping into his goal.
An Ecuadorian player condemned an Ecuadorian team. But Morumbí’s Tricolor could not complete the comeback and the tie went to penalties, where the former Real Madrid and Bayern Munich player he sent his launch to the clouds from the capital of São Paulo. First big disappointment for the Colombian and a big celebration for LDU.
Guilherme and Marinho, keys to Fortaleza
Strength The pass to the semifinals was secured this Thursday after clearly prevailing in the return match to the America Mineiro by 2-1, with goals from Guilherme and Marinho. With their victory, the team led by Argentine Juan Vojvoda becomes the first from the Northeast region, the poorest in the country, to advance to a South American semifinal, where they will face the powerful Corinthians, also from Brazil.
Guilherme he scored the first goal with a header for Fortaleza in the 21st minute, thanks to an assist from Tinga, and from then on the tricolor team dominated the rest of the first half against an América Mineiro with little reaction capacity. In the second half, América increased their possession of the ball, but it was difficult for them to overcome Fortaleza’s defense and transform it into scoring chances. On the contrary, Fortaleza mounted counterattacks that culminated in the team’s second goal in the 65th minute, this time from marine, who sent the ball into the back of the goal after the goalkeeper saved a first attempt. A few minutes later, a third team goal was canceled by the referee because striker Lucero was offside.
When the game already seemed under the firm control of Fortaleza, América Mineiro surprised with a goal from Breno in the 89th minute, but the referee whistled the end of the game before the scoreboard could turn around. The result confirms the good feelings of Fortaleza in the first leg a week ago, when they beat América 3-1.
Outside of the South American, the Northeast team is having a good season in the Brazilian championship, where it occupies eighth place with nine wins, seven losses and five draws. Unlike Fortaleza, América Mineiro, also owned by Fabián Bustos from Argentina, is going through a bad moment in the league, where it is the bottom of the standings with 13 losses, three wins and four draws, and has a high probability of relegation.