Estudiantes de La Plata, one of Argentina's most storied football clubs, made a powerful statement on Tuesday night in the Copa Libertadores, thrashing Universidad Católica 3-0 at the Claro Arena de San Carlos de Apoquindo in Santiago, Chile. The victory sealed a place in the quarterfinals of South America's most prestigious club competition, adding another chapter to a resurgent season under coach Diego 'Cacique' Medina.
A Tense First Half and the Tucu's Moment of Magic
The match began with high intensity, complicated by the artificial turf of the stadium. Tiago Palacios had the first clear chance for Estudiantes with a shot that went just wide. But at 33 minutes, Palacios, a key attacking piece, had to be substituted due to a physical discomfort. His replacement was Joaquín Correa, the former Lazio and Inter Milan midfielder, who wasted no time making his presence felt.
At 44 minutes, Correa received a pass after a brilliant individual run by Baltasar Rodríguez and, with a precise strike from outside the box, beat goalkeeper Vicente Bernedo to open the scoring. It was Correa's first goal for Estudiantes in nearly twelve years; his previous goal for the club came in the 2014 Copa Sudamericana during a 2-1 win over Peñarol.
Carrillo, the Captain Making History
In the second half, Estudiantes controlled the game and extended their lead. At 8 minutes, a perfect cross from Eros Mancuso was met with a powerful header by Guido Carrillo, making it 2-0 and putting the tie to bed. Goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, the Uruguayan veteran, also had a standout performance, making a crucial save against Arancibia.
The final blow came at 37 minutes of the second half, when Edwuin Cetré sent a dangerous cross into the box and Carrillo, with a subtle deflection with the sole of his boot, scored his second goal of the night and the 3-0 final. With these two goals, Carrillo reached 13 goals in the Copa Libertadores for Estudiantes, tying club legends Mauro Boselli and Juan Sebastián Verón at the top of the club's all-time scoring list in the competition.
“A spectacular match from the captain, with and without the goals. He led the press, was the first defender, and pivoted with class and quality,” noted analysis from Infocielo.
Player Ratings from a Flawless Night
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| Guido Carrillo | 10 |
| Santiago Núñez | 8 |
| Fernando Muslera | 7 |
| Joaquín Correa (sub) | 7 |
| Gastón Benedetti | 5 |
Gastón Benedetti was the weakest link, picking up an avoidable yellow card and offering little in attack. Tiago Palacios, before his injury, also had a quiet night.
What's Next? The Quarterfinal Opponent is Decided Thursday
With qualification secured, Estudiantes now awaits their quarterfinal opponent, which will come from the tie between Rosario Central and Corinthians. The decisive match of that series will be played next Thursday at 21:30 hours (local time), as confirmed by club sources. The team, full of confidence after the classic derby win and this continental triumph, is dreaming big and ready to continue making history.