Estudiantes de La Plata left Santiago del Estero with a 2-2 draw against Central Córdoba on Saturday, using a rotated side in their final Argentine Clausura outing before Flamengo arrive for the Copa Libertadores semi-final.
Alexander Medina held several regulars back with Thursday’s first leg in mind, yet Estudiantes initially took the lead away from home. The visitors then conceded twice in the space of two minutes and had to recover before half-time to avoid defeat.
The equaliser came deep into first-half stoppage time. After a VAR review, referee Andrés Gariano awarded Estudiantes a penalty, which Edwuin Cetré converted in the 50th minute to make it 2-2.
There was further frustration on the La Plata bench as Medina was sent off for protesting Gariano’s decisions.
Rotation before Flamengo’s visit
Goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, defender Santiago Núñez and forwards Guido Carrillo and Joaquín Correa did not make the trip north to Santiago del Estero. Cetré, Miguel Monsalve and Leandro González Pirez were among the players selected from the start.
The draw was Estudiantes’ last match before the Libertadores tie, with Flamengo due in La Plata on Thursday the 15th. Kick-off for the semi-final first leg is scheduled for 21:30 Brasília time.
Clausura position
Estudiantes are ninth in Group A with 14 points after 12 fixtures. Their record stands at four wins, two draws and six defeats, with 15 goals scored and 13 conceded.
They remain three points outside the qualification positions for the next stage. Independiente currently occupy eighth place on 17 points, although they have played one match fewer.
