Libertadores: Flamengo’s ref gave Estudiantes a dubious penalty | OneFootball

Piero Maza officiated Cerro Porteño (PAR) 0x1 Estudiantes (ARG) in the Round of 16

On the evening of this Friday (19th), Conmebol announced the refereeing team that will officiate the match between Flamengo and Estudiantes (ARG), for the second leg of the quarterfinals of the Libertadores. The Chilean Piero Maza will referee the match in La Plata. The referee was in charge of a decisive match for the Argentine team against Cerro Porteño (PAR) in the Round of 16, which outraged the Paraguayans.

At 47 minutes of the second half, Piero Maza awarded a penalty to Estudiantes for a foul on Guido Castillo, in the first leg of the Round of 16. Santiago Ascacíbar converted the penalty, securing a 1-0 away victory. Later, in Argentina, the teams drew 0-0.

WHAT DID CERRO PORTEÑO SAY ABOUT THE INCIDENT AGAINST ESTUDIANTES?

— I didn’t like the refereeing, but I understand he’s human and can make mistakes, just as I can in a decision. Several of his decisions didn’t seem right to me. He has a team that assists him, and I didn’t agree with those decisions — said Cerro Porteño’s coach, Diego Martínez.

After the match, played in August this year, the Paraguayan press reacted to the incident. The portal ‘Altos Noticias’ published that it was the “biggest robbery in the history of the Libertadores” and added: “invented penalty, not even the Estudiantes players complained.”

WHAT IS FLAMENGO’S RECORD WITH PIERO MAZA?

Piero Maza has refereed three matches for Flamengo, with Mengão winning two and losing one. The first was in the 2019 Libertadores, when the Rubro-Negro beat San José (BOL) 6-1 at Maracanã. Also at the Sacred Temple, but in 2022, the referee officiated the 2-1 win over Vélez Sarsfield (ARG) in the semifinal of the competition. Finally, in 2023, Del Valle (EQU) beat Fla 1-0 in Quito, in the Recopa.

WHEN WILL FLAMENGO AND ESTUDIANTES PLAY?

With the refereeing team set, Flamengo and Estudiantes will face each other next Thursday (25th), in La Plata, for the second leg of the quarterfinals of the Libertadores. The match kicks off at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), with full coverage from Coluna do Fla, of course.

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