Estudiantes, Flamengo’s opponent in the Libertadores semifinals, experienced a tense night losing the Supercopa Internacional title after a widespread brawl on the field.
The atmosphere heated up on Argentine pitches this Saturday (26). In a match for the Supercopa Internacional final, Estudiantes, which will be Flamengo’s next opponent in the Copa Libertadores semifinals, was defeated by Rosario Central 3-1. However, the negative result was overshadowed by a chaotic end to the game.
The scuffle began shortly after the visitors’ third goal, scored by Julián Fernández in stoppage time of the second half. The altercation between players started on the field and extended to the tunnel leading to the locker rooms at the Jorge Luis Hirschi Stadium in La Plata.
Tension and controversy with the refereeing
The home team’s anger was primarily aimed at the performance of referee Darío Herrera. Throughout the 90 minutes, Estudiantes intensely protested a possible handball by Ovando inside Rosario Central’s penalty area, a play ignored by the officiating crew. The protest was so significant that the club’s president, idol Juan Sebastián Verón, invaded the field to confront the referee’s decisions.
Regarding the hostile atmosphere at the end of the match, star player Di María, who was pivotal in the victory with two goals, lamented the incident:
“It was regrettable. We didn’t do anything to cause this. They will have their excuses. We will enjoy this moment.”
Looking ahead to Flamengo
Despite a promising start, with Alexis Castro scoring just two minutes in, the La Plata team could not contain Rosario Central’s comeback led by Di María. The performance and emotional instability of the squad have caught the attention of Flamengo’s technical staff, who are closely monitoring the rival’s behavior before their continental clash.
The first leg of the Libertadores semifinal is scheduled for October 15, in Argentina. The decisive duel will take place the following week at the Maracanã. In the meantime, Flamengo is observing the instability of its opponent, which now needs to digest the loss of the trophy to maintain focus on the South American competition. The report is from the M360 Team.
M360 Team
