Flamengo’s Copa Libertadores opponent, Estudiantes, loses the International Supercup final amid chaos and refereeing controversy.
The final of the Argentine International Supercup, held last Saturday (26), ended in chaos for Estudiantes de La Plata.
The team, which will be Flamengo‘s next opponent in the Copa Libertadores semifinals, was defeated 3-1 by Rosario Central.
The match was marred by a mass brawl on the pitch, followed by intense complaints regarding the officiating.
The setback and the turmoil have resonated strongly, especially within the Brazilian football scene, ahead of the upcoming continental clash.
The negative result and the scenes of unrest at Estádio Jorge Luis Hirschi, Estudiantes’ home ground, serve as a wake-up call for the Argentine club.
The loss in a championship final and the palpable tension on the pitch could impact the team’s preparation for their challenge against Flamengo, as the Rubro-Negro seeks the Libertadores title.
On-pitch chaos and decisive goals
The match began with Estudiantes opening the scoring through Alexis Castro.
However, Rosario Central, led by Ángel Di María, orchestrated a comeback.
The forward scored twice, and Julián Fernández extended the lead in stoppage time, sealing a 3-1 victory.
Immediately after the third goal, tensions flared rapidly, resulting in a general brawl between players and coaching staff members from both sides on the field.
Shoving, verbal abuse, and physical altercations were reported, turning Rosario Central‘s celebration into a riot.
The conflict continued even after the final whistle, with heated arguments taking place as the teams headed to the locker rooms.
Forward Ángel Di María, the hero for Rosario Central in the match, commented on the incident in an interview with the broadcaster ‘DSports’, expressing his regret while maintaining that his team was simply celebrating the title.
The player stated:
It was regrettable what happened in the final. We didn’t do anything to cause this. They will have their reasons. We are going to enjoy this moment.
Outrage against refereeing and Verón’s intervention
Beyond the brawl, Estudiantes showed significant dissatisfaction with referee Darío Herrera.
The main complaint involved an incident where the ball allegedly touched Ovando‘s arm inside the box, which players argued should have been a penalty.
The referee, however, ignored the protests and allowed play to continue.
The outrage was so intense that Estudiantes president Juan Sebastián Verón invaded the pitch at the end of the match to personally confront the officiating crew.
The executive protested vehemently, expressing his indignation over the decisions made.
With the controversy and the trophy lost, Estudiantes now shifts its focus to intensive preparation to face Flamengo in the Libertadores.
Juan Sebastián Verón shouted:
🔴 Juan Sebastián Verón’s fury at referee Herrera: “This is all on you, you are a thief.”
Next steps in the Libertadores
The decisive Copa Libertadores semifinal matches between Flamengo and Estudiantes are scheduled for October 15 and 22.
The first leg will take place at Estádio Jorge Luis Hirschi, in La Plata, while the return leg will be played at the Maracanã, in Rio de Janeiro.
Flamengo earned the advantage of hosting the second leg due to their superior overall performance in the tournament’s group stage.
Both matches are set to kick off at 9:30 PM (Brasília time).
The M360 Team will provide full coverage of both encounters, offering fans analysis and details on the decisive clashes.
Expectations are for intense matches, with Estudiantes looking to bounce back from their recent setback and Flamengo aiming for yet another continental final.
