Muslera Saves Three Penalties at the Maracanã: Ten-Man Estudiantes Knock Out Flamengo and Reach the Libertadores Final
It ended 0-0 in La Plata, it ended 0-0 at the Maracanã, and it was decided from the penalty spot — where 40-year-old Fernando Muslera stopped three Flamengo kicks and sent Estudiantes de La Plata to their first Copa Libertadores final since 2009. They did it with ten men for almost the entire second half.
Ten Men at the Maracanã
The second leg on October 22 stayed goalless, with the tie level 0-0 on aggregate. Estudiantes' night got far harder four minutes into the second half, when Baltasar Rodríguez was shown a second yellow card for grabbing Samuel Lino's shirt. Flamengo, coached by Leonardo Jardim, pushed for the rest of the match with the extra man — and could not find a goal.
The Shootout, Kick by Kick
Flamengo and Estudiantes alternated, starting with Flamengo: Giorgian de Arrascaeta scored, José Sosa scored, Jorginho was saved by Muslera. Then came the strangest moment of the night: Edwuin Cetré's first kick was ruled out — per La Nación's account, for kicking with both legs — and when he had to retake it, he sent the ball over the crossbar.
Lucas Paquetá was saved by Muslera, Eros Mancuso scored, Leo Pereira scored for Flamengo, and Tiago Palacios converted to put Estudiantes 3-2 up. Bruno Henrique had to score to keep Flamengo alive; Muslera saved that one too. Final shootout score: 3-2.
Muslera: “The Goalkeeper Has the Edge in Penalties”
The Uruguayan goalkeeper stopped Jorginho, Paquetá and Bruno Henrique. “In penalties the goalkeeper has the plus,” he said afterwards, calling the night “a pride, a happiness.” According to beIN Sports, he had gone through difficult moments with Uruguay at the World Cup, and said with a trembling voice that “football, in the end, gives you revenge.”
Estudiantes coach Alexander Medina, also Uruguayan, credited him directly. And the reaction back home reached the top of the government: Uruguay's Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin — Muslera's godfather — praised him, saying he is on the cover of every newspaper.
Details That Made the Night
Giorgian de Arrascaeta — reported out of both legs after a wrist fracture earlier this month — was back on the pitch 21 days after surgery and scored Flamengo's first penalty. Estudiantes striker Guido Carrillo, the club's all-time top scorer in the Libertadores, was coached by Jardim at Monaco. And defender Marcos Rojo summed up the visitors' approach: “We came to a difficult stadium and stood our ground very well.”
What Comes Next
Estudiantes reach their sixth Libertadores final and the first since their 2009 title. Palmeiras are waiting: the final is on Saturday, November 28 at Estadio Centenario in Montevideo — Muslera's home country.