November 25 – South American champions Flamengo secured a valuable 1-1 draw on the road against Argentina’s Racing Club in the last 16 of the Copa Libertadores on a good first night for Brazilian clubs in the competition’s knockout phase.
Earlier this week, Conmebol confirmed that the Copa Libertadores final has been rescheduled for January 30 at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Stadium and on Tuesday the competition’s knockout phase got under way with ties involving Brazilian clubs.
In the pick of the night’s matches, reigning champions Flamengo travelled to Argentina for a tricky first leg against Racing. The Brazilian club recently sacked coach Domenec Torrent and his successor Rogerio Ceni, a former goalkeeper, is still finding his feet in a new environment. Ceni had come under sustained pressure after Flamengo exited the Brazilian Cup last week at the hands of Sao Paulo.
In Argentina, Flamengo navigated the 90 minutes well. Hector Forteli handed the hosts the lead in the 13th minute, but Gabriel Barbosa equalised two minutes later, scoring his 11th goal in the Copa Libertadores. Late on, central defender Matheus Tuler was sent off, but ten-men Flamengo held on.
Athletico Paranaense also had a man send off in their match with last year’s losing finalists River Plate. Reinaldo Satorno’s dismissal proved to be a turning point with the Brazilians relinquishing a 1-0 lead in the final minutes. Paulo Diaz equalized to hand River Plate a crucial away goal heading into the return leg.
Santos, arguably, got the best result of the night at altitude in Ecuador. They defeated LDU Quito 2-1 in a boost for Pele’s former club, which has seen administrative and financial chaos in recent months
On Wednesday, Internacional and Boca Juniors headline the other five ties in the second round of the Copa Libertadores.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1734922070labto1734922070ofdlr1734922070owedi1734922070sni@o1734922070fni1734922070