Corinthians faced off against América de Cali in a gripping encounter during the fourth round of the Copa Sul-Americana on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at the Neo Química Arena. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, complicating the Brazilian side’s chances of advancing in the tournament.
Memphis Depay opened the scoring for Corinthians in the 20th minute, giving the home team an early lead. However, the Colombian side equalized just seconds into the second half thanks to Sebastián Navarro, leaving the Timão in a precarious position in Group C.
Despite a bright start, Corinthians struggled to maintain momentum after Navarro's equalizer. The match began with both teams testing each other’s defenses. Within the first two minutes, América de Cali's Vergara had a chance to score, but his shot was expertly saved by Corinthians' goalkeeper, Hugo Souza.
The Timão responded quickly, with Memphis finding Yuri Alberto in the fourth minute. Alberto's powerful shot, however, was thwarted by the opposing goalkeeper, Soto. As the first half progressed, América de Cali seemed to gain control of the game, dominating possession but failing to capitalize on their chances.
In the 35th minute, Bidon of Corinthians attempted a strong shot, which deflected off a defender and resulted in a corner kick. The home crowd was buzzing with anticipation, hoping for more offensive firepower from their team.
The second half began with a bang for América de Cali. Just one minute in, a well-executed set piece saw Carrascal deliver a perfect cross to Navarro, who was left unmarked and made no mistake in equalizing for the visitors.
After conceding, Corinthians appeared rattled and took time to regroup. In the 21st minute, Yuri Alberto had another opportunity to regain the lead, but his shot from outside the box was comfortably saved by Soto. Shortly after, he attempted to chip the goalkeeper with a header, but the effort sailed over the bar.
As the match wore on, the pressure mounted on the Corinthians players. In the 28th minute, Alberto turned provider, laying off a pass to Coronado, whose shot from distance went wide of the target, much to the frustration of the home fans.
The final moments of the game saw both teams pushing for a decisive goal. In stoppage time, Memphis delivered a dangerous cross into the area, but Héctor Hernández's attempt went over the goal, sealing a disappointing draw for the Timão.
With this result, Corinthians now sits in third place in Group C with just 5 points, trailing behind América de Cali, who holds 6 points, and the group leader Huracán, who has 7 points. The draw has made it more challenging for Corinthians to qualify for the next round of the tournament.
Looking ahead, Corinthians will need to regroup quickly as they prepare for their next match on May 15, 2025, against Racing in Uruguay. The pressure is on coach Dorival Júnior and his squad to find a way to secure a victory and keep their hopes alive in the Copa Sul-Americana.
As the tournament progresses, fans will be eagerly watching to see if Corinthians can bounce back from this setback and mount a serious challenge for qualification.
In summary, the match was a tale of missed opportunities for Corinthians, who will need to sharpen their finishing if they hope to advance in the competition. The draw leaves them in a tight spot, making their upcoming fixtures all the more critical.
