Palmeiras struggled, but defeated Sporting Cristal in a heartbreaking away match in the Libertadores.
Palmeiras debuted in the Copa Libertadores da América this Thursday (3/4) with a hard-fought 3-2 victory against Sporting Cristal, at the National Stadium of Peru, in Lima. Estêvão, Piquerez and Richard Ríos scored for Verdão, while Pretell and Távara scored for the home team.
The team led by coach Abel Ferreira struggled at the beginning, but went into the break with the advantage on the scoreboard after Estêvão scored. In the second half, they came back stronger, but saw Sporting Cristal equalize, with a shot from outside the area by Pretell. Piquerez tied the game, with a penalty, in the final stretch, but Verdão suffered another goal from outside the area, with a shot from Távara, and conceded the tie.
In injury time, Richard Ríos secured Palmeiras’ victory. With this result, Verdão has three points and is in second place in Group H, behind Cerro Porteño, with the same score but a higher goal difference. Sporting Cristal is in third place. Palmeiras will return to the field for the Libertadores next Wednesday, when they will face Cerro Porteño at Allianz Parque. Sporting Cristal, in turn, will visit Bolívar in La Paz on the same day and time. Before that, Verdão will be back on the field on Sunday to face Sport at Ilha do Retiro in the second round of the Brazilian Championship.
Palmeiras started the game with more possession, but were unable to create much danger to Sporting Cristal’s goal. The Peruvian team had the first best chance of the game in the 15th minute. After a pass into the Palmeiras area, the ball hit Bruno Fuchs’ arm, who was fighting with Castro at the edge of the area, and the referee signaled a foul. González sent the ball straight to Weverton, who sent it over the crossbar.
And, in the 24th minute, Sporting Cristal gave Palmeiras another scare. After a corner kick, Romero headed the ball forward, and Chavez headed it straight to Weverton, who threw himself at the ball and saved Verdão, just in time. Next, Bruno Fuchs launched Vitor Roque into the area, but the number 9 was unable to get past the marker to finish and lost the ball. Estêvão had a good chance in the 32nd minute. Piquerez advanced to the end and crossed into the area.
Estêvão, facing the goal, headed the ball wide, missing the opportunity to put Verdão ahead. Four minutes later, Enríquez saved Sporting Cristal from conceding a goal. Vitor Roque launched the ball into the area, Estêvão passed it back to Evangelista, who shot towards the goal and saw the goalkeeper palm it away.
Then, at 37 minutes, Alviverde finally opened the scoring. Emiliano Martínez passed the ball into the box to Facundo Torres, who found Vitor Roque. The number 9 fought for the ball, Facundo shot and saw Enríquez palm it into the box. Estêvão grabbed the rebound, beat the goalkeeper and put it in the back of the net.
Palmeiras gets scared, but secures victory in injury time
Palmeiras came back focused for the second half and had a good chance early on, at two minutes. Lucas Evangelista sent a pass to Felipe Anderson, who shot and was stopped by Enríquez. Then, the number 7 of Verdão passed the ball to Facundo Torres, but saw the defense clear it. Then, Piquerez crossed and Vitor Roque headed it over the goal.
At seven minutes, Evangelista unleashed a shot from outside the box, the goalkeeper glanced it off and sent it over the crossbar. The referee only awarded a goal kick. The next minute, Palmeiras almost scored their second. Emiliano Martínez opened the ball with Estêvão on the right, invaded the area, received the ball back and shot towards the goal, but Enríquez saved it.
Sporting Cristal created danger in the 16th minute. Cabellos got the ball in the area, but shot at Evangelista, who cleared the ball away. The Peruvian team tied the score in the 21st minute. Castro received a pass at the edge of the area and passed it to Pretell, who was facing the goal. He unleashed the shot and bulged the net for Palmeiras, leaving Weverton with no chance.
In the 34th minute, Flaco López was launched by Estêcão in the area and was brought down by Sosa, guaranteeing a penalty for Verdão. On the penalty kick, Piquerez unleashed a shot and scored the second goal for Palmeiras. But, without giving time for the Brazilians to celebrate, Sporting Cristal tied the game again at 38 minutes. Cabellos passed to Távara, who hit a powerful shot from outside the area, almost at the corner of Weverton’s goal, scoring a great goal. Palmeiras did not give up and scored the third goal in injury time. At 47 minutes, Richard Ríos, with a header, received the ball from Luighi, perfectly placed, and secured the victory for the green and white team.
