Flamengo came to La Plata hoping to control the game and left grateful for a clean sheet. The holders drew 0-0 with Estudiantes at the Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi on Thursday in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores semi-finals, a result that owed more to resilient defending than to anything Leonardo Jardim’s side created.
Estudiantes set the tone from the opening whistle. Backed by a loud home crowd, they pressed high, won the midfield battles and pumped crosses into the box. Brazilian daily Estadão judged that Flamengo did not manage a single dangerous shot on goal all night.
The hosts’ best chance arrived just past the half-hour. A clearance fell to Tiago Palacios inside the area, and only a last-ditch intervention by Léo Pereira kept the ball out. After the break Alex Sandro blocked an effort from defender Núñez after a corner, and goalkeeper Agustín Rossi held firm when substitute Edwuin Cetré tried his luck late on. Jardim brought on Pedro and Plata, yet the pattern barely changed.
For Flamengo the evening still had a silver lining. Eleven matches into this year’s tournament they have still not lost, winning seven and drawing four, and the tie now moves to the Maracanã on Thursday, 22 October. A win of any kind would put them in a second consecutive final; another draw would send the semi to penalties.
Estudiantes, four-time champions, have a strong home record in the knockout rounds and will feel they let a real opportunity slip. Before the decider, Flamengo face Bahia in the Brazilian league on Sunday. The other semi-final pits Palmeiras against Fluminense.
