Racing fell 2-1 against Bragantino in Brazil and could not establish itself in its Copa Sudamericana group

After the disappointing elimination against Talleres de Remedios de Escalada in the round of 16 of the Argentine Cup, Racing knows that they have no margin for error. The frustrating production in the League Cup that ended in the hands of Estudiantes (they did not achieve the goal of accessing the Playoffs) was another argument that put Gustavo Costas’ cycle on the ropes, who promised a championship when he assumed the responsibility of leading one of the best teams in Argentine football.

The wound does not seem to heal in the Academy, which despite having arrived in Brazil with an ideal score, their match against Bragantino occurred under a framework of absolute confusion that quickly put Portuguese Pedro Caixinha’s team in the lead. A rude error by Gabriel Arias, another of the many that he has been accumulating since 2024 began, marked a preview of what would happen at the Nabi Abi Chedid Stadium. The goalkeeper of the Chilean national team tried to clear a ball that bounced against Thiago Borbas but fortunately did not end up in the net.

In any case, the Uruguayan striker was double-billed prematurely after a poor closing by Agustín García Basso and a rebound off the post that dislocated the Albiceleste defense. In less than seven minutes, the home team had already done all the work. And the striking posture of Avellaneda’s men cast doubt on the continuity of Gustavo Costas.

The racing hope was revived thanks to a notable individual action by Adrián Martínez. After a frontal ball, Maravilla dominated, got rid of his markers and resolved with a violent volley that burned Cleiton’s hands. On the rebound, Santiago Solari joined at full speed and scored with a header that was unreachable for the Brazilian goalkeeper. With the adverse 2 to 1, the Argentine team was within reach of achieving a beneficial result for its future.

A counterattack played by Facundo Mura, the former Instituto and Maxi Salas scorer, could have led to a tie, but the intervention of Luan Cândido took the ball to the corner. And from that corner kick taken by Agustín Almendra, Marco Di Cesar rose in the enemy area and looked for the far post. By inches the Academy did not celebrate the second. They were two very clear opportunities that could change the fate of the night.

In the second half, the Argentine team could not reach the tie and thus gave up a great opportunity to establish itself at the top of the group. Although Racing continues as the leader with nine points, Bragantino also adds the same number of units. In favor of the Academy is that it has a +5 goal difference, while the Brazilians have 0. The last two days, those from Costas will receive Coquimbo Unidos from Chile and Sportivo Luqueño from Paraguay.

Trainings:

Bragantino: Cleiton Schwengber; Nathan, Douglas Mendes, Luan Cândido, Guilherme Lopes de Almeida; Ramires, Jadsom, Juninho Capixaba; Ignacio Laquintana, Thiago Borbas, Eduardo Sasha. DT: Pedro Caixinha.

Racing Club: Gabriel Arias; Marco Di Cesare, Santiago Sosa, Agustín García Basso; Facundo Mura, Bruno Zuculini, Agustín Almendra, Gabriel Rojas; Maximiliano Salas, Adrián Martínez and Santiago Solari. DT: Gustavo Costas.

TV: ESPN.

Referee: Kevin Ortega.

VAR: Augusto Menéndez.

Stadium: Nabi Abi Chedid.

Positions of Group H of the Copa Sudamericana

BELGRANO DE CÓRDOBA 1-1 DELFÍN

Belgrano de Córdoba tied 1-1 with Delfín SC and remains at the top of Group B of the Copa Sudamericana. At the Mario Alberto Kempes, the Pirate appeared before his people with the hope of continuing steadily in the continental competition. He played the match with one less player from the first stages and was able to carry out the match.

After a start in Belgrano he showed the initiative, at 11 minutes Jostin Alman got between the two centre-backs and scored before the departure of goalkeeper Nahuel Losada and the clash occurred. The referee first did not call a foul, but then he received the call from the VAR and after seeing the play on the monitor he sent him off to the Pirate goalkeeper. Given this situation, Juan Cruz Real had to make a change and took out Matías Marín (he retired upset) so that the substitute goalkeeper, Ignacio Chicco, entered.

The Ecuadorians took advantage of the extra man and generated arrivals, but they lacked aim and precision in the last pass to be able to break the zero.

While Belgrano turned to the hard work of Esteban Rolón, Santiago Longo in midfield to recover and try to get closer.

In the second half, the goals came in two minutes. Belgrano went from euphoria to discontent. At 62, Franco Jara took a perfect shot to place and put the Pirate ahead.

But after the throw-in from the middle, Delfín made a good play and José Angulo received it in the middle of the area and struck down Chicco, who stood still and could do nothing to avoid the tie.

On the next date Belgrano will play at home again. They will host Real Tomayapo next Wednesday. While it is not yet confirmed when Inter Porto Alegre will play with Delfín SC, due to the floods affecting the south of Brazil.

Trainings:

Belgrano: Nahuel Losada; Mariano Troilo, Matthias Moreno and Augustin Baldi; John Barinaga, Stephen Rolon, James Longo, Facundo Lencioni; Bryan Reyna, Matthias Marin and Franco Jara. DT: John Cross Royal.

Dolphin: Brian Heras; Joshua Leather, Ignatius Gariglio, Nicholas Goitea, John Manuel Elordi; Michael Kings, Christian Garcia, Luis Castro, Horace Tijanovich; Jostin Alman and Jose Angle. DT: William Lasted.

TV: ESPN.

Referee: Leodan Gonzalez (Uruguay).

VAR: Christian Ferreyra (Uruguay).

Stadium: Mario Alberto Kempes, Córdoba.

Positions of Group C of the Copa Sudamericana

DEPORTIVO GARCILASO 0-2 LANÚS

Lanús defeated Deportivo Garcilaso 2-0 in Peru in a duel corresponding to matchday 4 of Group G of the Copa Sudamericana. The Inca Garcilaso de la Vega stadium in Cusco was the setting for this show that, although it took place at altitude, did not benefit the local team.

El Granate started with everything in Cusco since at 7 minutes they took the lead with a goal from Walter Bou, who got into the area and scored a cross to put the team led by Ricardo Zielinski ahead. The play was reviewed by the VAR, but the former Boca Juniors forward was cleared.

In the first part of the match Lanús was a storm and at 11 minutes Bou could have scored the second, when after a half turn he finished, but Diego Penny drowned out his scream.

Walter Bou’s play for Lanús against Garcilaso

Although as the minutes passed, the Incas reacted and created danger in the rival field. This made goalkeeper Alan Aguerre become the figure of the Argentine team. Among his saves was a header from Carlos Beltrán after a corner kick, a volley to deflect a free kick from Alexi Gómez and another to take out a mid-range missile from Jorge Bazán.

Alan Aguerre’s spectacular save on Carlos Beltrán’s header

In the complement, the Argentine team increased with a goal from Marcelino Moreno at 9 minutes. In this way, Lanús, which had just triumphed in the last match on April 25 against Metropolitanos de Venezuela, when it won 2 to 0, now has 10 points and leads the group. Cuiabá is second with 8, while Garcilaso remains with 4. Eliminated and last is Metropolitanos de Venezuela, which will be Granate’s next rival next Wednesday from 7 p.m.

This was not the first time that Deportivo Garcilaso and Lanús met. In fact, both faced each other in the first leg that took place in La Fortaleza in the south of the Buenos Aires suburbs, where the local team won by 2 to 1.

Trainings:

Deportivo Garcilaso: Diego Penny; Erick Canales, Carlos Beltrán, Luis Caicedo, Alexi Gómez; Miguel Cornejo, Carlo Diez, Luis Urruti; Jorge Bazán, Gaspar Gentile and Adrián Ugarriza. DT: Bernardo Redín.

Lanús: Alan Aguerre; Braian Aguirre, Abel Luciatti, José Canale, Julio Soler; Marcelino Moreno, Luciano Boggio, Augusto Lotti; and Walter Bou. DT: Ricardo Zielinski.

TV: D Sports.

Referee: Gery Vargas (Bolivia).

VAR: Francisco Gilabert (Chile).

Stadium: Inca Garcilaso de la Vega.

Positions of Group G of the Copa Sudamericana