Corinthians Football Club has successfully advanced to the third preliminary round of the Copa Libertadores after overcoming Universidad Central from Venezuela with a 3-2 victory on Wednesday night (February 26) at the Neo Química Arena. The match unfolded dramatically, starting with Corinthians taking the lead through a goal from Yuri Alberto within the first minute. This initial triumph, though, quickly turned tumultuous as Universidad Central equalized just three minutes later, thanks to Juan Cuesta. The tension remained until the first half when Matheus Bidu scored again for Corinthians, only to be matched by another equalizer from Adrián Martínez five minutes later.
The defining moment for Corinthians came late in the game, at 43 minutes of the second half. A cross from Argentine player Garro found Yuri Alberto, who finished with precision, solidifying the team's qualification for the next stage after the first leg ended with a 1-1 draw.
Despite the win, the atmosphere among the fans was electric yet dissatisfied. The Corinthians supporters, known as Fiel, expressed their frustrations audibly, chanting phrases such as, "let’s play football" and "either you play for love or you play for fear" during the match. These sentiments reflected their expectations for the team and contrasted sharply with the jubilation seen among the players in the locker room.
Coach Ramón Díaz tried to highlight the importance of the victory, stating, "You (journalists) cannot enter the locker room, it's too bad because it’s incredible how happy the players are". He urged the fans to maintain their spirits, emphasizing the necessity of recognizing the team's efforts, even after what some considered to be underperforming against semi-amateur opposition. "The fans need to be happy, enjoy, because Corinthians fought," he noted, stressing gratitude toward the players for their competitiveness across all tournaments.
The feedback from social media and fan reactions echoed the dissatisfaction felt at the stadium. Some supporters voiced their concerns on platforms like Twitter, with one fan lamenting, "What a shame the qualification came this way; it was tough, but it wasn’t Corinthians." Another added, "The suffering of Corinthians football is about fight, not embarrassment," highlighting their disappointment with recent performances.
During the match, Díaz also made gestures to fans, asking for calm as frustrations mounted, particularly when some criticized the team’s execution. This communication is part of his approach to manage expectations amid mixed performances. He acknowledged needing to improve the team's defensive strategies, indicating, "We need to find equilibrium to attack and defend, which we will work to correct."
Following this qualifying match, the team now faces Barcelona de Guayaquil from Ecuador. This upcoming encounter will be pivotal, with the winners securing places in the group stage of South America's premier club competition, Copa Libertadores.
Fans remain hopeful yet cautious as they look forward to supporting their team. The dedicated Fiel has demonstrated their commitment through high turnouts at matches, setting attendance records at the Neo Química Arena, underscoring their passionate loyalty to Corinthians. This devotion is evident with the supporters reaching their capacity of over 40,000 attendees consistently.
While the club prepares for their next match, the mixed reactions from fans and players signify the broader dynamics within the sport, where victories alone do not suffice without the expected performance standards. The emphasis, now more than ever, lies on achieving not just results, but on restoring faith and pride among their most devoted fans.