Author: Vishwajit Sawant
Corinthians recover dramatically to beat Newell’s Old Boys
In a thrilling first leg of the Copa Sudamericana round of 16, Corinthians showed their resilience by pulling off a dramatic comeback to beat Newell’s Old Boys-ARG 2-1. The Argentinian team took the lead at the end of the first half through Marcos Portillo (45+4), leaving the Brazilian side trailing at home. However, Corinthians recovered in the second half, turning the game around with goals from Yuri Alberto, who converted from the penalty spot, and 18-year-old Wesley, who showed impressive opportunism in the box.
The absence of Róger Guedes, who was recently transferred to Al-Rayyan, was a major talking point throughout the match. Despite creating several chances, Corinthians struggled to score until the second half. With a crucial advantage, Corinthians now face the second leg in Argentina, where they will try to secure their place in the next round.
Fortaleza beat Libertad-PAR 1-0
Fortaleza coach Juan Pablo Vojvoda has made significant changes to his team’s line-up in response to their recent problems with three consecutive defeats. The tactical change paid off as Fortaleza secured a crucial 1-0 win against Libertad-PAR in the Copa Sudamericana round of 16 clash in Asuncion. The win now puts Fortaleza in a favorable position, needing only a draw in the second leg, scheduled for next week at the Arena Castelão, to advance to the quarter-finals. The only goal of the match, 20 minutes into the first half, was scored by midfielder Zé Welison, after a brilliant one-two with Paraguayan striker Guilherme, who showed his worth on the pitch.
In the second half, Fortaleza managed the game masterfully, maintaining their lead and frustrating their opponents. The visitors went into defensive mode. João Ricardo made some incredible saves and, in the 90th minute, Martín Silva also showed his goalkeeping skills, preventing Thiago Galhardo from snatching a 2-0 win for Paraguay. With this historic opportunity to record their best-ever run in a continental tournament, Fortaleza want to keep up the momentum and secure a place in the next round.
Drama at the end: Defensa y Justicia beat Emelec 2-1
In a thrilling first leg of the Copa Sudamericana round of 16, Defensa y Justicia pulled off a late victory, coming from behind to beat Emelec 2-1 at the Estadio Banco del Pacifico Capwell in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Bryan Carabali gave Emelec an early lead in the fifth minute, assisted by José Cevallos. The Ecuadorian side showed promise throughout the match, but Defensa y Justicia kept up the pressure and pulled off a dramatic comeback in the final minutes. Nicolas Fernandez equalized in the 87th minute, with Lucas Pratto providing the assist. The visitors then sealed the impressive comeback in injury time, with Gaston Togni scoring the winner in the 90+1 minute. The result gives Defensa y Justicia a crucial advantage going into the second leg, while Emelec will be determined to overturn the deficit in their next match.