São Paulo lose to LDU in Quito, struggle in Libertadores quarters | OneFootball

São Paulo was defeated by LDU this Thursday, by 2 to 0, at the Rodrigo Paz Delgado stadium, in Quito, Ecuador, for the first leg of the quarterfinals of the Copa Libertadores. Bryan Ramírez and Estrada scored the goals of the match.

The result ended a 17-game unbeaten streak of São Paulo in the Libertadores, a record in its history. The last time Tricolor had lost a game was on April 4, 2024, when it was defeated by Talleres, in Argentina.

The second leg of the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals between São Paulo and LDU takes place next Thursday, at 7pm (Brasília time), at Morumbis. Before that, Tricolor takes the field next Sunday, against Santos, at Vila Belmiro, for the Brazilian Championship.

The winner of the duel between São Paulo and LDU will face whoever advances from Palmeiras x River Plate. In the first game, Verdão beat the Argentine rival by 2 to 1 at the Monumental de Núñez, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and will decide the spot at Allianz Parque next Wednesday.

Match Situation

With the away defeat, by 2 to 0, São Paulo needs to beat LDU by three goals difference in the return match, at Morumbis, to advance to the semifinal. A victory by two goals difference will take the decision to penalties. A draw or a defeat by one goal difference from the Ecuadorians is enough for them to qualify.

Game Summary

LDU 2 X 0 SÃO PAULO

Competition: Copa Libertadores  Location: Rodrigo Paz Delgado stadium (Casa Blanca), in Quito (Ecuador)  Date: September 18, 2025 (Thursday)  Time: 7pm (Brasília time)

Yellow Cards: Arboleda (São Paulo); Tiago Nune, Quiñonez, Villamil (LDU)  Red cards: none

Refereeing

Goals LDU Bryan Ramírez, at 15 of 1stT , Estrada, at 34 of 2ndT

⚪🔵 LDU

Gonzalo Valle; Ricarod Adé, Gian Allala and Quiñonez; Carlos Gruezo, Connejo (Minda), Quintero (Cuero) and Villamil; Ramírez, Alzugray (Pastrán) and Jeison Medina (Cabeza) (Estrada). Coach: Tiago Nunes.

🔴⚪⚫SÃO PAULO

Rafael; Ferraresi, Arboleda and Alan Franco; Cédric Soares (Mailton), Pablo Maia, Bobadilla (Rodriguinho), Marcos Antônio and Enzo Díaz; Rigoni (Ferreira) and Luciano. Coach: Hernán Crespo.

The Game

São Paulo started better and controlled the game, having more than 60% of ball possession. However, just at the moment when it was superior, LDU opened the scoring. At 15 minutes, Allala made a beautiful launch for Bryan Ramírez, who escaped the marking of Cédric Soares and, face to face with Rafael, hit without letting the ball drop, seeing it kiss the post before dying in the back of the net.

From then on, São Paulo struggled to find spaces in LDU's defense. Without depth, the team led by Hernán Crespo could not make the transition from defense to attack, exchanging horizontal passes, without breaking the opposing marking lines.

The best chance of Tricolor in the first half happened just before the interval, more precisely at 44 minutes, when Enzo Díaz reached the baseline crossed to Luciano, who finished with a volley, sending to the left of goalkeeper Gonzalo Valle.

São Paulo improves in the 2ndT

São Paulo returned for the second half connected. In the first few minutes, Luciano had two good opportunities to tie the game. In the first, he dribbled the goalkeeper, but hit the LDU defender. Either way, the move was ruled offside. Then, the number 10 received inside the area and hit the corner, forcing Gonzalo Valle to make a good save.

At 30 minutes it was Ferreirinha's turn to receive on the left, go for the marking, take it to the middle and hit from inside the area, but the LDU defender managed to deflect the shot at the right time, avoiding São Paulo's equalizing goal.

Tricolor is punished at the end

Again when it was widely superior in the game, São Paulo ended up suffering a goal. Pablo Maia lost the ball in the defense field, Estrada got the ball inside the area and hit without chances for the goalkeeper Rafael, extending the score for LDU and ensuring a comfortable advantage for the return game, at Morumbis, next Thursday.

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