Peñarol Advance to Copa Libertadores Semifinals
The five-time Copa Libertadores champion, Peñarol, drew 0-0 in the second leg and secured a spot in the semifinals of the tournament on Thursday after eliminating Flamengo.
A week after their 'Maracanazo' in Rio de Janeiro, Diego Aguirre's side withstood the onslaught and managed to secure a goalless draw, giving value to their 1-0 victory in the first 90 minutes of the series.
In this way, the Uruguayan side will once again play in a semifinal, a stage they last reached in 2011, when they made it to the final after eliminating Argentina's Vélez Sarsfield.
This time, their opponent will be another Brazilian team, Botafogo, which reached the semifinals for the first time in 51 years and dreams of claiming its first-ever title, while Peñarol seeks to win their sixth Libertadores crown after a 37-year drought.
Trailing after losing the first leg, Flamengo came out determined to quickly score a goal that would level the series.
Tite's side dominated the play and controlled the ball almost entirely, but they struggled to convert that dominance into clear scoring chances.
Gerson, Gonzalo Plata, and Bruno Henrique moved across the attacking front, trying to challenge a solid Peñarol defense.
The Ecuadorian forward came close with a header that ended in the hands of goalkeeper Washington Aguerre, while Giorgian de Arrascaeta squandered a good opportunity with a shot that went over the crossbar.
On the other side, Peñarol relied on counterattacks but found little success. Their clearest chance came from a free kick by Leonardo Fernández, which Agustín Rossi pushed away for a corner.
In the second half, Flamengo dominated possession, with Uruguayan Nicolás de la Cruz and their full-backs playing as additional attackers.
However, passing errors and difficulties in connecting with their forwards meant the visitors never truly threatened Aguerre's goal.
Peñarol remained solid at the back, weathered the pressure without major issues, and secured the 0-0 draw they needed to return to the semifinals after thirteen years.
The final whistle sparked even more euphoria from the fans who packed the Campeón del Siglo stadium, cheering their team on nonstop as they continue to dream of a sixth Libertadores title.