4 – 2
“Maxi Gómez converted a penalty to hand Nacional an early lead, giving the visitors the perfect platform to control the tie.”
Pivotal“Despite being a man down, Álex Valera struck right on the stroke of half-time to give Universitario a 2-1 lead heading into the break — a stunning response from the ten men.”
Pivotal“Substitute Maximiliano Silvera levelled for Nacional at 2-2, cancelling out Universitario's half-time lead and raising the prospect of a Nacional triumph against the ten men.”
Pivotal“Lisandro Alzugaray, introduced just twelve minutes earlier, restored Universitario's lead at 3-2 with a decisive strike that ultimately proved to be the winning goal and the match's defining moment.”
Pivotal
Universitario
NacionalUniversitario needed a dramatic second-half revival and the intervention of their substitutes bench to see off Nacional 4-2 in a Copa Libertadores contest that swung wildly in both directions. Nacional drew first blood through a Maxi Gómez penalty in the 14th minute, but the home side levelled through Caín Fara before the half-hour mark and then took the lead just before the break via Álex Valera — all while playing the final 55 minutes with ten men after Lucas Rodríguez collected a second yellow card in the 35th minute. That numerical disadvantage made Nacional's 71st-minute equaliser from substitute Maximiliano Silvera entirely plausible, and for a spell it looked as though the visitors might capitalise on their man advantage. Instead, it was Universitario's own substitutes who proved decisive: Lisandro Alzugaray, on just twelve minutes, restored the lead at 81' before José Carabalí killed the contest in stoppage time. Universitario's statistical dominance — 56% possession, 15 shots, 8 big chances created to Nacional's 3 — underlines that this was a deserved home victory, even if the red card made the closing stages far more fraught than it needed to be.
How entertaining was this match?
Jose Rivera takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Jose Carabali scores with a left-footed shot.
Jesus Castillo receives a yellow card.
Jairo Concha takes a left-footed shot, but it's saved.
Pavel Nunez is on, and Luciano Boggio is off for Albin.
Emiliano Ancheta comes on for Nicolas Rodriguez.
Rodrigo Martinez comes on for Tomas Veron Lupi.
Lisandro AlzugarayLisandro Alzugaray scores with a header.
Lisandro AlzugarayYellow CardLisandro Alzugaray receives a yellow card.
Hector Fertoli comes on for Martin Perez Guedes.
Jose Rivera is on, and Alex Valera is off.
Alex Valera attempted a left-footed shot but missed.
Luis MejíaYellow CardLuis Mejia receives a yellow card.
Maximiliano Silvera, the captain, takes a shot with his right foot and scores.
Maximiliano Gomez's header is saved.
Lisandro Alzugaray takes a left-footed shot that hits the post.
Tomas Veron Lupi takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Lisandro Alzugaray comes on for Edison Flores.
Jesus Castillo is on, and Jorge Murrugarra is off.
Maximiliano Gomez's header is blocked.
Juan Cruz de los Santos replaces Marcelo Nicolas Lodeiro Benitez.
Maximiliano Silvera comes on as captain, replacing Mateo Baltasar Barcia Fernandez.
Jorge MurrugarraYellow CardJorge Murrugarra receives a yellow card.
Jairo Concha's right-footed shot is blocked.
Agustin Rogel's header is saved.
Mateo Baltasar Barcia Fernandez attempts a header but misses the shot.
Alex Valera scores with a left-footed shot.
Jose Carabali takes a shot, but it's saved.
The first half ends with a score of 1-1.
Maximiliano Gomez receives a yellow card.
Cain Jair Fara scores with a left-footed shot.
Cain Jair Fara scores with a left-footed shot.
Cain Jair Fara scores with a left-footed shot.
Maximiliano Gomez takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Second yellow card shown to Lucas Guzman Rodriguez Cardoso.
Marcelo Nicolas Lodeiro Benitez takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Andy Jorman Polo Andrade takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Martin Perez Guedes takes a header, but it goes wide.
Maximiliano Gomez takes a shot with his head, but it's saved.
Tomas Veron Lupi takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Yellow card issued to Lucas Guzman Rodriguez Cardoso.
Yellow card issued to Cain Jair Fara.
Maximiliano Gomez takes a shot with his right foot and scores.
Goal in the penalty shootout! Maximiliano Gomez scores, making it 1-0.
Universitario enter this Copa Libertadores clash in chaos, searching for a new manager after sacking Javier Rabanal just 24 hours before kickoff. Nacional arrive as Group B leaders, unbeaten and organized, making this a must-win moment for the home side at the Estadio Monumental. Can the Cremas rally without a coach to keep their continental hopes alive?
