Palmeiras struggles, but defeats Sporting Cristal in the Libertado…

Palmeiras, managed by Abel Ferreira, had to struggle to overcome Peruvian side Sporting Cristal in São Paulo, in a match of the second round of the Copa Libertadores group stage, but ended up winning 2-1 with a penalty in the dying moments, securing their lead in Group F.

A game that, at first glance, seemed easy for Abel Ferreira’s team, but ended up becoming complicated. The São Paulo team started dominating the game, with good ball circulation and two good opportunities, before opening the scoring in the 25th minute, with Allan crossing for an easy finish by Murillo. 

However, in their only opportunity, Sporting Cristal managed to equalize in the 41st minute with a surprise shot from Juan González, leaving Carlos Miguel with no chance of making a save.

A frustrating result for the home team at halftime, but the second half would be much more difficult. The Peruvians closed ranks in their defense and did everything to waste time, driving the Brazilians to despair. Abel Ferreira’s team, looking for the win, ended up getting nervous, missed many passes and even had some scares, with the opponent trying to turn the game around in quick transitions.

The game became tense, but with ten minutes remaining, Arthur, who had just come off the bench, was brought down in the area by Cuenca, and Flaco Lopez converted the penalty. Despite the relief, Palmeiras still had to struggle to secure their first victory in the competition, with Sporting Cristal opting for a more direct style of play. Carlos Miguel made a great save, in a final stretch that left Abel Ferreira extremely irritated.

With this victory, Palmeiras stands out at the top of Group F, with 4 points, one more than Sporting Cristal and Cerro Porteno, while Junior Barranquilla has only one point.