Corinthians Squeezes Past Universidad Central With Late Goal by Yuri Alberto
Corinthians secured their spot in the third phase of the Copa Libertadores after defeating Universidad Central 3-2 on Wednesday evening at the Neo Química Arena. The victory was not without its challenges, as Corinthians encountered significant tension throughout the match, including moments when they lost their lead twice.
The encounter kicked off at a frenetic pace, with Corinthians drawing first blood just two minutes in. José Martínez made an impressive play on the right before crossing to Yuri Alberto, who deftly slotted the ball home, igniting excitement among the home fans.
Just as quickly as the euphoria rose, it tumbled back down. A mere three minutes later, poor defensive play by João Pedro allowed Zapata to cross to Juan Cuesta, who easily equalized, sending shockwaves through the stadium. It was clear this match would not be as straightforward as Corinthians had hoped.
Despite the early slip, Corinthians regained the upper hand later in the first half. After pressuring the UCV defense, Memphis Depay set up Matheus Bidu, who struck effectively to restore their lead, bringing the score to 2-1. Bidu's goal, coming just before the halftime whistle at the 39-minute mark, seemed to put Corinthians back on track.
Alas, another defensive blunder occurred just before the break. Goalkeeper Hugo Souza, after failing to handle the corner well, allowed Adrian Martínez to capitalize and nod home the header, resulting in another equalizer for Universidad Central, making it 2-2 at halftime.
The second half dragged on with mounting pressure on both teams. Corinthians, determined to avoid the embarrassment of extra time or penalties, pushed hard for the win. Yet, they faced difficulties as the Universidad Central players pushed back hard on counterattacks, keeping the pressure on the Corinthians defense.
Head Coach Ramón Díaz opted for tactical changes, adding more attackers as the match progressed, even squeezing on Talles Magno. Nonetheless, opportunities continued to slip by as frustration mounted, and the anxious crowd wondered if the night would end poorly.
With only minutes remaining, hope flickered as Rodrigo Garro found Yuri Alberto. The team's star player, who opened the scoring, would not let this opportunity slip. He confidently struck the ball, scoring the game-winner at the 43rd minute of the second half. It was pure relief for the players and fans alike as it sealed the match at 3-2.
Although the victory was hard-fought, it pushed Corinthians forward to face Barcelona de Guayaquil next, who advanced by defeating El Nacional. The upcoming confrontation promises to be equally demanding, as both teams aim for the prestigious trophy.
While the players celebrate the temporary victory, they have little time to rest. The next challenge looms large as they prepare to meet Mirassol on Sunday for the quarter-finals of the Campeonato Paulista. That match will also take place at the Neo Química Arena and kick off at 18:30 (Brasília time).
For now, as they step off the field with adrenaline still pumping through their veins, the Corinthian spirit remains alive and well, dreaming of continued success within the Copa Libertadores.