Corinthians rally to draw at Estudiantes-ARG in Libertadores quarters | OneFootball

Corinthians traveled to Jorge Luis Hirschi Stadium in La Plata, Argentina, on Wednesday night (9) to face Estudiantes in the first leg of the 2026 Conmebol Libertadores quarterfinals and drew 1-1. Alvinegro’s goal was scored by forward Kaio César early in the second half. With the result, if the Corinthians side wants to advance directly to the semifinals, it will have to win in regular time. In the event of another draw, the decision will go to a penalty shootout. The two teams will meet again next Wednesday (16) at 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time) at Neo Química Arena.

The Corinthians coaching staff could not count on the following players for the match: center-back André Ramalho (partial work with the group after a bout of labyrinthitis), defensive midfielders Raniele (suspended) and André Luiz (still recovering from a grade 2 injury to the hamstring in his right thigh), attacking midfielders Vitinho (in physical transition, in the final stage of recovery from surgery on the meniscus in his left knee) and Zakaria Labyad (recovering from surgery on the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee), as well as forwards Kayke Ferrari (recovering from surgery on the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee) and Yuri Alberto (still being treated for a grade 2 injury to the hamstring in his right thigh).

Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

Thus, coach Fernando Diniz sent out the following lineup to start the match: Hugo Souza; Matheuzinho, Gabriel Paulista, Gustavo Henrique and Matheus Bidu; Allan; André Carrillo (Charles), Breno Bidon and Rodrigo Garro (Matheus Pereira); Kaio César and Memphis Depay (Pedro Raul).

The bench options were: Kauê Camargo, João Pedro Tchoca, Iago Machado, Pedro Milans, Fabrizio Angileri, Alex Santana, Charles, Matheus Pereira, Dieguinho, Jesse Lingard, Gui Negão and Pedro Raul.

Estudiantes-ARG lineup

Coach Cacique Medina started the match with: Fernando Muslera; Mancuso, Santiago Nuñez, Gonzalez Pirez and Gastón Benedetti; Lucas Piovi, Alexis Castro, Joaquin Correa and Baltasar Rodríguez; Tobio Burgos and Guido Carrillo.

Officiating

The referee was Esteban Ostojuch (URU), assisted by Martín Soppi (URU) and Pablo Llarena (URU). The fourth official and VAR were Alberto Feres (URU) and Antonio García (URU), respectively.

Next match

After facing Estudiantes away from home in the first leg of the Libertadores quarterfinals, Corinthians now temporarily turns its focus back to the Brazilian Championship. Next Sunday (13), at 4 p.m. (Brasília time), Alvinegro visits Flamengo at the Maracanã Stadium for the 27th round of the national competition. Currently, Timão sits in 12th place with 32 points — eight wins, eight draws and 10 losses — with 27 goals scored and 27 conceded.

First half

The opening minutes of the match between Estudiantes-ARG and Corinthians were marked by the Corinthians side trying to occupy attacking areas. Just before the first minute, Matheuzinho was about to receive a pass behind him, but won the challenge and the ball went out for a goal kick. In the second minute, after a cross from the right, Timão’s No. 2 sent it out for a corner.

In the third minute came Estudiantes’ first goal. After a corner from the left, Hugo Souza parried a header, and on the rebound the Argentine side opened the scoring. After falling behind, the club from Parque São Jorge tried to keep more possession of the ball. In the seventh minute, Kaio César received it near the byline and won a corner. Rodrigo Garro took it from the right with his left foot toward the middle of the box, and the Argentine defense cleared it.

In the 10th minute, André Carrillo received a long ball on the right from midfielder Allan. No. 19 controlled it, took on the defender and had his cross blocked. Shortly after, Breno Bidon made a run through the middle, beat his marker and found Matheus Bidu. No. 21 tried two passes to Rodrigo Garro, but got both wrong. Right after that, Allan committed a hard foul in midfield.

In the 16th minute, Gustavo Henrique played a good long pass to Matheuzinho on the right. No. 2 controlled it and laid it off to André Carrillo, who, when he tried to cross, sent a poor ball into the box. Two minutes later, Matheuzinho, after combining with Kaio César, tried to cross into the area, but it was cleared.

Right after that, Estudiantes tried to respond on the counterattack, but the move was already stopped for offside. In the 19th minute, Gabriel Paulista slipped up and allowed a pass in behind him. Hugo Souza reacted quickly, came off his line, and the ball bounced around inside the box, but Timão managed to clear it. In the 21st minute, Alvinegro worked the ball around in midfield. Allan found Memphis Depay, who made an individual play and shot over the goal.

At the halfway point of the first half, Corinthians was having trouble finishing its attacking plays and showed little inspiration in creating chances. Estudiantes, for its part, was not brilliant either, but was efficient enough to score early in the match. In the 27th minute, Estudiantes launched a counterattack down the right and, after two failed crossing attempts, won a corner after being blocked by midfielder Breno Bidon.

From the corner on the right, after a header, Hugo Souza gathered the ball. Then Kaio César received it on the right and crossed straight into Muslera’s hands. In the 30th minute, Rodrigo Garro received a switch on the left, controlled it beautifully, beat his markers and shot over the Estudiantes goalkeeper’s goal.

In the 32nd minute, Gustavo Henrique committed a foul at the edge of the box. The play came after a forward pass in which No. 13 got tangled up with Matheus Bidu, was dribbled past and committed the foul. The free kick hit the wall. The Argentine side collected the rebound, crossed it, and midfielder Allan cleared it long.

In the 36th minute, Estudiantes threatened. After a move built down the left, Allan had lost a duel on that side. Santi Rodríguez received the ball in midfield and shot, with a deflection, just wide of Hugo Souza’s top corner. On the inswinging set piece, Santi Rodríguez sent it straight at goal and No. 1 parried it away for another corner. From the set piece, the danger was cleared.

Shortly after, Corinthians tried to push forward, but André Carrillo and Memphis Depay got in each other’s way with the ball in midfield. In the final stretch of the first half, Timão moved the ball around in defense and midfield, but lacked creativity and did not trouble the Estudiantes defense.

When the clock reached 45 minutes, three more were added. In the closing moments of stoppage time, Estudiantes tried a move down the right, but Matheus Bidu won the duel and earned a throw-in. At 48 minutes, the first half ended: Estudiantes-ARG 1-0 Corinthians.

Second half

To start the second half, coach Fernando Diniz made no changes. The opening minutes of the second half between Estudiantes-ARG and Corinthians featured a foul on center-back Gabriel Paulista, who was left with a bump on his head. In the very first minute, Timão created a good move down the right with Matheuzinho and Kaio César. The ball then fell to Memphis Depay, who miscontrolled it.

In the third minute, Corinthians equalized! Midfielder Rodrigo Garro received the ball in the middle and played a beautiful through pass to forward Kaio César. No. 37 ran onto it and slipped it under Fernando Muslera as the goalkeeper came out. Shortly after equalizing, Timão tried to press higher up the pitch.

In the sixth minute, Kaio César committed a foul in midfield. From a rehearsed set piece, Guido Carrillo struck it first time and Hugo Souza made a good save. Five minutes later, left-back Matheus Bidu made a good run down the left and passed to Memphis Depay. No. 10 crossed for Rodrigo Garro, who laid it off for Matheuzinho to shoot straight at Fernando Muslera.

By the 12th minute, Corinthians was the better side and was managing to make its plays click, keeping the ball away from the opponent for long spells. Around the 15th minute, Estudiantes tried a move cutting inside from the left, but Hugo Souza came off his line and claimed the ball. Right after that, the Argentine team sent a shot well wide.

In the 19th minute, the club from Parque São Jorge threatened again. On a counterattack down the right, Kaio César took on his marker, shifted the ball and laid it off for Rodrigo Garro, who sliced his shot wide. Two minutes later, Estudiantes responded with a move down the left. André Carrillo mistimed his challenge, and Hugo Souza made a save to his right after a shot from the edge of the box.

In the 22nd minute, André Carrillo was beaten on the edge of the box, and after a cross to the right there was a mishit shot before Guido Carrillo headed over the opposing goal. Soon after, Peréz tried a move down the right and Gustavo Henrique made the tackle inside the box. Three minutes later, Corinthians made its first change: midfielder André Carrillo left the field and defensive midfielder Charles came on.

In the 27th minute, midfielder Breno Bidon was fouled on the left side of midfield. Shortly before that, Memphis Depay had also been brought down in the same area. On the free kick, Memphis Depay curled it in and the defense cleared it. On the rebound, Matheus Bidu hit a driven shot and Muslera parried it out for a corner. The referee, however, awarded a goal kick.

Shortly after, the Argentine side began to apply pressure in attack, but without troubling goalkeeper Hugo Souza. In the 31st minute, Charles committed a foul on the left side of midfield after stepping on an opponent. Two minutes later, Timão tried a move down the right with Kaio César and Rodrigo Garro, who crossed into an empty area, and the Estudiantes-ARG defense cleared it.

In the 34th minute, Matheus Bidu found Breno Bidon on the left. No. 7 tried to play a ball through to Memphis Depay, but was blocked by the opposing player. A minute later, after a move down the right, Estudiantes won a corner on that side. From the delivery, winger Kaio César cleared the danger.

In the 37th minute, Hugo Souza came off his line to claim a high cross from the left. Soon after, following a move down the left, Matheuzinho made a tackle and found Memphis Depay, who held the ball up and played in Rodrigo Garro. No. 8, however, let the ball run out for a throw-in. In the 40th minute, Kaio César almost managed to control it and finish past Muslera, but a foul by No. 37 was called.

In the 41st minute, Corinthians made its second change: attacking midfielder Rodrigo Garro left the field and midfielder Matheus Pereira came on. A minute later, Timão won a free kick after a handball. Matheus Bidu delivered it from the left side of midfield and the Estudiantes-ARG defense cleared it. At 43 minutes, Breno Bidon slid in to block a crossing attempt from the right. In the 44th minute, another substitution for Alvinegro: forward Pedro Raul replaced Memphis Depay.

When the clock reached 45 minutes, six minutes were added. In the 46th minute, Charles carried the ball out through the middle and was about to be sent through by Breno Bidon, but the center-back covered and passed it back to goalkeeper Fernando Muslera. In the 47th minute, after a cross from the left, Hugo Souza made a huge save from Corrêa’s header and sent it out for a corner! From the corner, Timão’s defense cleared the danger.

With just over a minute left, Estudiantes pressed but failed to create danger. Right after that, Matheus Bidu was fouled in the defensive half and the foul was given. At 51 minutes, the match ended: Estudiantes-ARG 1-1 Corinthians!

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.