São Paulo’s Itaquerão fell silent at the last: Estudiantes de La Plata held their nerve through a tense Libertadores night, won 1-0 at Corinthians and sealed a place in the semi-finals when Memphis Depay sent a stoppage-time penalty over the bar.
Key takeaways
- Alexis Castro struck the decisive goal in the 87th minute, finishing first time with his left foot after a run and cross from Palacios.
- Estudiantes advanced after drawing 1-1 in La Plata and winning the return match in Brazil.
- Memphis Depay missed a VAR-awarded penalty in the 102nd minute, ending Corinthians’ final chance to save the tie.
- The Argentine side will meet either Flamengo or Independiente del Valle in the Copa Libertadores semi-finals.
- Corinthians struggled without injured leading scorer Yuri Alberto and created little clear danger for Fernando Muslera.
Patience from La Plata, frustration in São Paulo
Eduardo “El Cacique” Medina’s Estudiantes arrived prepared for a long evening rather than an open contest. With the first leg level, the visitors defended firmly, competed for loose balls and repeatedly aimed crosses towards Guido Carrillo, whose aerial presence gave the red-and-white side an outlet.
The opening period was ragged, physical and unsettled. Venezuelan referee Jesús Valenzuela had difficulty calming a match marked by fouls and misplaced passes, while neither goalkeeper was seriously tested for long spells.
Corinthians lacked fluency. Breno Bidon and Rodrigo Garro found little room to shape the game, while Depay was isolated in attack. Fernando Diniz urged his team to play higher during the first cooling break, and the hosts briefly found some momentum through André Carrillo, whose effort brought a save from Muslera, and Kaio César, who shot straight at the Uruguayan goalkeeper.
Kaio César’s pace caused particular problems for Palacios, deployed as an emergency right-back. Yet Corinthians still failed to turn territorial pressure into sustained danger, while Estudiantes’ height and willingness to contest second balls occasionally pushed the home side back towards its own penalty area.
Castro’s finish and Depay’s final miss
The second half remained compressed and combative. Estudiantes found more space on the left through Burgos, though Gabriel Paulista and Gustavo Henrique prevented the visitors from creating a clearer opening. The La Plata club also lost Correa after the attacking midfielder felt pain in his thigh and left the field visibly concerned.
Medina used the second cooling break to demand greater urgency in regaining possession. Corinthians enjoyed more of the ball but rarely troubled Muslera, apart from a modest Matheus Bidu attempt that the goalkeeper turned away. Estudiantes were content to manage the draw, with Carrillo sending a header wide as the visitors looked for a release.
Then came the defining move. Palacios drove towards the byline and delivered low for Castro, who met the ball without taking a touch and fired a left-footed effort past Hugo Souza. Corinthians protested that the ball had crossed the line before the cross, but the video review upheld the goal.
There was still one extraordinary escape for Estudiantes. Leandro González handled inside the area in the closing moments, an offence missed initially by Valenzuela but identified by VAR. Depay stepped forward in the 102nd minute, only to lift his penalty over the crossbar and confirm an Argentine celebration deep into the São Paulo night.
On-page headline: Estudiantes silence Corinthians as Castro goal sends La Plata club to Libertadores semi-finals
SEO title: Estudiantes beat Corinthians to reach Copa Libertadores semi-finals
SEO description: Alexis Castro scored late as Estudiantes won 1-0 at Corinthians, while Memphis Depay missed a stoppage-time penalty in São Paulo.
