Author: Vishwajit Sawant
The first leg of the 32nd round of the Copa Sudamericana knockout stage produced thrilling clashes, with narrow victories for Colo Colo, Barcelona SC and Corinthians over their respective opponents. Colo Colo beat América Mineiro 2-1, while Barcelona SC beat Estudiantes de La Plata by the same scoreline. Meanwhile, Corinthians secured a slender 1-0 win over Universitario, which sets up an intriguing second match for these teams in their quest to progress in the tournament.
Two goals from Leonardo Gil secure Colo Colo’s 2-1 win over América Mineiro
In a thrilling game at the Estadio Monumental David Arellano, Colo Colo beat América Mineiro 2-1 in the first leg of their Copa Sudamericana round of 16 tie. The Chilean side dominated the game from the start and their efforts were rewarded early in the second half when Leonardo Gil scored in the 46th minute. Gil continued to be Colo Colo’s standout performer and completed his brace in the 63rd minute, giving his side a comfortable two-goal lead. However, América Mineiro reacted in the final moments of the game, with Alê’s goal in injury time giving the Brazilian team some hope. The stage is now set for a thrilling second leg, with both teams fighting for a place in the last 16.
Barcelona SC win first leg against Estudiantes de La Plata
In a thrilling encounter in the last 16 of the Copa Sudamericana, Barcelona SC beat Estudiantes de La Plata 2-1. Estudiantes took the lead in the 27th minute, but Carillo’s goal was disallowed for offside. And two minutes later, Fidel Martinez set the tone for Barcelona SC right from the start, finding the back of the net in the 29th minute, igniting the home crowd with his accurate finish. However, Estudiantes de La Plata recovered just before half-time when Leonardo Godoy equalized in the 45th minute, leaving the two teams level at the break. Incidentally, this goal by the visitors was also disallowed at the start, but after being checked by the VAR, it was considered. The match continued to be hotly contested in the second half, with chances for both sides. In the 78th minute, Janner Corozo sealed the win for Barcelona SC with a well disallowed goal, giving them a crucial advantage going into the second leg. Estudiantes de La Plata will now have to recover if they want to stay in the tournament.
Felipe Augusto’s late goal gives Corinthians the lead in their 1-0 win over Universitario
In a tight first leg of the Copa Sudamericana round of 16, Corinthians managed to secure a 1-0 win over Universitario thanks to a late goal from Felipe Augusto. The match, held at the Corinthians Arena, was a hotly contested battle between the two South American giants. Both teams showed great determination and tactical skill, making the game captivating for the fans. Universitario were dealt a blow in the 73rd minute when Alex Varela was shown a straight red card, leaving them a man down for the rest of the game. Corinthians took advantage of their numerical advantage and, in the 79th minute, Felipe Augusto opened the scoring with a powerful shot, assisted by Renato Augusto. The result gives Corinthians a crucial advantage going into the second leg, while Universitario face an uphill battle to overturn the deficit.