Flamengo hard done by refs, draw with Estudiantes, top in Libertadores | OneFootball

Referee Piero Maza failed to send off two Estudiantes players against Flamengo

Flamengo remains top of Group A in the Copa Libertadores. This Wednesday (29), the Rubro-Negro held on for a 1-1 draw with Estudiantes (ARG) at Estádio UNO in La Plata. Luiz Araújo scored for the Most Beloved, and Carrillo leveled it.

The Brazilian side left the pitch furious over the non-send-offs of Farías and Tomas Palacios, one in each half. However, referee Piero Maza chose to ignore both incidents, benefiting the home team.

With the result, Flamengo moves up to seven points at the top of the group. Estudiantes is second with five. In third place is Independiente Medellín (COL), with one. Cusco (PER) is bottom with zero. The two bottom teams face each other this Thursday (30) in Colombia.

HOW WAS THE FIRST HALF?

The match began with Estudiantes controlling more of the play and pushing further up the field. Meanwhile, Flamengo stayed compact and waited for openings on the counterattack. The hosts hovered around the box but created little danger. The visitors, meanwhile, threatened with a quick break led by Luiz Araújo.

However, Flamengo fans panicked in the 18th minute. After being fouled, Arrascaeta landed awkwardly on the turf, felt severe shoulder pain, and asked to be substituted. The No. 10 is a concern going forward. As a result, Leonardo Jardim brought on Jorge Carrascal.

The Colombian came on well. In the 26th minute, Carrascal played a beautiful one-two with Samuel Lino, who shot from inside the box, but the ball went wide to the left of Muslera’s goal. Estudiantes responded in the 29th minute with a shot from Farías over Rossi’s goal.

Lino shone in the first half and played a part in Flamengo’s goal! In the 32nd minute, the winger slipped it through to Bruno Henrique, who used his strength and speed to beat his marker and set up Luiz Araújo, completely free with no goalkeeper to beat, to open the scoring. Mengão 1-0 in La Plata!

Later, the officiating gave Estudiantes a helping hand. Farías scissored Emerson Royal, but the referee showed only a yellow card. According to Grupo Globo refereeing analyst PC Oliveira, the player deserved a straight red. 

HOW WAS THE SECOND HALF?

Estudiantes came flying out for the second half. Before the first minute was even up, Rossi had to make a difficult save on a shot from inside the box by Amondarain. In the fifth minute came the Argentines’ best chance. Meza crossed into the area, and Farías, completely unmarked in the box, headed wide. 

In the ninth minute of the second half, there was an incredible sequence. Bruno Henrique received a spectacular pass and went one-on-one with Muslera, who made the save. On the rebound, Luiz Araújo was also denied by the Uruguayan goalkeeper. On the counterattack, Estudiantes equalized. After a cross from the right and a scramble in the box, Carrillo made it all square.

Shortly afterward, Flamengo loudly appealed for a penalty during a run by Emerson Royal. Furious, Leonardo Jardim entered the field and was shown a red card. On the other side, Estudiantes coach ‘Cacique’ Medina was also sent off.

After failing to send off Farías in the first half, referee Piero Maza also failed to show a red card to Tomas Palacios in the second half. The defender went in studs-up on Bruno Henrique, was already on a yellow, but the referee ‘pretended not to see it’.

In the closing stages, Estudiantes piled on the pressure but barely managed to trouble Rossi. So Flamengo adopted a more conservative approach to hold on to an important away point in the 2026 Copa Libertadores. In stoppage time, Pedro missed two good chances, and Amondarain wasted an even clearer opportunity, with Rossi making the save.

WHEN IS FLAMENGO’S NEXT MATCH?

Flamengo will be back in action in the Copa Libertadores on Thursday (07) against Independiente Medellín in Colombia. Before that, however, the Most Beloved has a Brasileirão fixture. On Sunday (03), the opponent will be Vasco da Gama at 4:00 p.m. (Brasília time) at the Maracanã.

MATCH DETAILSESTUDIANTES 1X1 FLAMENGOCompetition: Copa Libertadores, Group A Matchday 3Venue: Jorge Luis Hirschi StadiumDate: April 29, 2026, WednesdayGoals: Luiz Araújo 32’/1st half, Carrillo 9’/2nd half

Estudiantes: Muslera, Meza, Pirez, Tomas Palacios and Benedetti; Piovi, Tiago Palacios, Amondarain, Neves and Farías; Carrillo. Coach: Alexander ‘Cacique’ Medina.

Flamengo: Agustín Rossi, Emerson Royal, Danilo, Vitão and Alex Sandro; Evertton Araújo, Jorginho and Arrascaeta; Samuel Lino, Luiz Araújo and Bruno Henrique. Coach: Leonardo Jardim.

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