“Santiago González, despite being on a yellow card, drove forward and finished coolly to open the scoring and give Cristal the lead their dominance had warranted.”
Pivotal“Substitute Catriel Cabellos rounded off a composed Cristal performance with a goal in stoppage time to confirm a 2-0 victory.”
Sporting Cristal
Junior FCOutstanding performance
Sporting Cristal•MidfielderSporting Cristal controlled this Copa Libertadores encounter from the moment Junior FC were reduced to ten men, but the story began even earlier with a chaotic opening half-hour that set the tone. Jermein Peña was the central figure in the first half's turbulence — involved in an event at the seventh minute before being dismissed for violent conduct at 22, leaving Junior to fight an uphill battle for over an hour. Cristal, to their credit, were patient and methodical rather than immediately ruthless, holding 56% possession and completing 425 passes at 86% accuracy, building pressure through width and movement. Santiago González, who had himself been cautioned at 49 minutes, broke the deadlock four minutes later to make it 1-0, before substitute Catriel Cabellos put a definitive stamp on proceedings in injury time. For Cristal, a clean sheet and a controlled performance in continental competition strengthens their case as genuine contenders in the group; for Junior, the red card proved insurmountable and their Copa Libertadores campaign takes a damaging blow.
How entertaining was this match?
There is a delay in the match due to an injury to Miguel Araujo from Sporting Cristal.
Jermein PeñaRed CardJermein Peña of Junior receives a red card for violent conduct.
Foul committed by Jermein Peña - Junior.
Foul committed by Jermein Peña - Junior.
Attempt missed. Santiago González from Sporting Cristal takes a right-footed shot from outside the box.
Maxloren Castro from Sporting Cristal misses a left-footed shot from the center of the box, sending it to the right. The assist came from Yoshimar Yotún.
Foul by Kevin Pérez of Junior.
Foul by Maxloren Castro of Sporting Cristal.
Jhomier Guerrero from Junior wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sporting Cristal wins a corner after Joel Canchimbo concedes.
Gustavo CazonattiYellow CardGustavo Cazonatti of Sporting Cristal receives a yellow card for a foul.
Foul committed by Gustavo Cazonatti of Sporting Cristal.
Miguel Araujo from Sporting Cristal wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Joel Canchimbo of Junior.
Miguel Araujo from Sporting Cristal wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Joel Canchimbo from Junior wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul committed by Maxloren Castro of Sporting Cristal.
Sporting Cristal wins a corner after it is conceded by Jhomier Guerrero.
Foul committed by Juan Ríos - Junior.
Yoshimar Yotún from Sporting Cristal wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Catriel CabellosCatriel Cabellos scores with a left-footed shot.
Catriel Cabellos comes on for Santiago Gonzalez.
Guillermo Paiva takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Bryan Castrillon comes on for Juan David Rios Henao.
Santiago Gonzalez has a shot with his right foot, but it's blocked.
Gerald Martin Tavara Mogollon takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Felipe Vizeu do Carmo takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Luis Fernando Muriel Fruto takes a shot with his right foot, but it's blocked.
Jhomier Guerrero takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Juan González is on, and Maxloren Castro is off.
Gabriel Santana Pinto takes a right-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Felipe Vizeu do Carmo takes a left-footed shot, but it is saved.
Guillermo Paiva comes on for Joel Canchimbo.
Felipe Vizeu do Carmo is substituted off for Irven Beybe Avila Acero.
Gabriel Santana Pinto is on, and Luis Iberico is off.
Yimmi Javier Chara Zamora comes on for Jesus David Rivas Hernandez.
Luis Fernando Muriel Fruto comes on for Teofilo Antonio Gutierrez.
Cristian Barrios comes on for Kevin Pérez Kraaijeveld.
Jesus David Rivas Hernandez takes a right-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Santiago Gonzalez takes a shot with his left foot and scores.
Goal! Santiago Gonzalez scores to make it 1-0.
Joel Canchimbo takes a right-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Santiago Gonzalez receives a yellow card.
Jesus David Rivas Hernandez takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Gerald Martin Tavara Mogollon is on, and Gustavo Cazonatti is off.
Gustavo Cazonatti attempts a header but misses the shot.
The first half ends with a score of 0-0.
Teofilo Antonio Gutierrez takes a left-footed shot, but it is saved.
Santiago Gonzalez's right-footed shot is saved.
Jesus David Rivas Hernandez takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Santiago Gonzalez takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Maxloren Castro's left-footed shot is blocked.
Luis Iberico's right-footed shot is blocked.
Jeison Suarez takes a left-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Jesus David Rivas Hernandez takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Jesus David Rivas Hernandez takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Gustavo Cazonatti takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Joel Canchimbo takes a left-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Teofilo Antonio Gutierrez takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Sporting Cristal host Junior FC in a first-ever competitive meeting at the Estadio Nacional de Lima, with both sides needing points in Copa Libertadores Group F. Cristal sit second behind Palmeiras and will look to leverage home advantage, while a defensively resolute Junior side travel to Lima seeking a crucial away result.
