Corinthians secured their spot in the third round of the Copa Libertadores after battling to a narrow 3-2 victory over Universidad Central of Venezuela at the Neo Química Arena on February 26, 2025. The win came just at the right time, thanks to two goals from Yuri Alberto, including the decisive strike at the very end of the match.
The stage was set for what many expected to be an easy outing for the Brazilian giants, but Universidad Central had other plans. Just three minutes after kickoff, Yuri Alberto capitalized on some good play from teammate André Carrillo, finding the net with relative ease. This early goal seemed to set the tone for Corinthians, but Universidad Central quickly proved to be resilient opponents.
A mere three minutes later, the contest took an unexpected turn when Colombian Juan Manuel Cuesta scored, leveling the match at 1-1. This moment shocked the Corinthians supporters who thought their team would stroll to victory. But it was far from straightforward as the Venezuelan side continued to pose challenges, consistently pushing back against the Brazilians.
Corinthians regained their advantage just before halftime when Matheus Bidu scored a well-placed shot following a clever assist from Memphis Depay. With the score sitting at 2-1, the home side looked to have found their stride. Yet, just as the first half was drawing to a close, Adrián Martínez leveled the score again for Universidad Central with impactful timing, making it 2-2 just before the whistle.
With both teams heading to the locker rooms tied and tensions high, the second half saw Corinthians ramping up the pressure. The match became increasingly physical as Rodrigo Garro and Depay both had attempts saved, with Universidad Central's goalkeeper Miguel Silva performing admirably under pressure. The minutes ticked away, and anxiety engulfed the stands as home fans feared their team might be heading for a penalty shootout.
It was not until the 89th minute when Yuri Alberto struck again, sending the crowd at Neo Química Arena wild as his second goal secured the 3-2 win. His powerful finish capped off what had been an exhilarating night of football and solidified Corinthians' advancement to the ultimate qualifying round before the group stage.
"A double from Yuri Alberto, including one at the 89th minute, secured the win for Corinthians," reported EFE News, reflecting on the forward's heroics. Throughout the match, the opposition proved far tougher than many anticipated, with Corinthians having to dig deep to avoid humiliation.
Looking forward, the Brazilian club will face Barcelona de Guayaquil, who themselves squeezed through their own challenging matchup against El Nacional of Ecuador. This upcoming match promises more challenges, as Corinthians gears up to continue their quest for the title they won back in 2012.
With their playoff prowess being tested, Corinthians are certainly setting themselves up for another competitive campaign. The upcoming matches will reveal if they have what it takes to reclaim glory on the continental stage.