Flamengo left La Plata with a 0-0 draw against Estudiantes on Thursday night, sending the decision over a place in the Copa Libertadores final to the Maracanã. The second leg is set for the following Thursday, 22 October, in Rio de Janeiro.
The match was played at the Estadio UNO — the Jorge Luis Hirschi — the Argentine club's home ground. With no goals scored, the tie remains wide open: whoever wins in Rio goes through, and another goalless draw would push the semifinal into extra time and, if needed, penalties.
Rossi made two saves; Muslera was never tested
Estudiantes had the initiative and the clearer chances. In the 33rd minute of the first half, Tiago Palacios came close to opening the scoring, but Agustín Rossi blocked the shot with his legs. After the break, Edwuin Cetré, who had come on during the match, forced the Flamengo goalkeeper into another stop.
Flamengo offered little going forward. The Brazilian side did not produce a shot that required intervention from Fernando Muslera, the Uruguayan goalkeeper who plays for the Argentine club. Jorge Carrascal stayed on for the full 90 minutes, and Gonzalo Plata came on in the 80th in place of Samuel Lino. For Estudiantes, Cetré and Miguel Ángel Monsalve entered in the final 15 minutes.
The other side of the draw
The final is scheduled for 28 November at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo. The opponent will come from Palmeiras or Fluminense: on Wednesday, Palmeiras won 2-1 at the Maracanã and plays the return leg needing only a draw.
With Estudiantes in the other semifinal, three of this edition's four semifinalists are Brazilian clubs — and the 22 October match decides whether Brazil takes both places in the final.
With information from El Tiempo, Vistazo, Infobae and Agência Brasil.
