In the three other quarter final ties the winning side managed to overturn a one-goal deficit from the first leg and last night in Avellaneda Racing needed to do the same. However, another costly red card made life very difficult for Diego Cocca’s side and although they still dominated much of the match, Guaraní held on to a goalless draw and progressed to a semi final clash with River Plate.
In Paraguay last Thursday Racing ultimately paid the price for Luciano Lollo’s stupidity in getting sent off and fell to Julián Benítez’s late goal. Last night in Avellaneda, La Academia once more shot themselves in the foot in a game that they were dominating and looking the far more likely to score.
A moment of sheer madness in defence just before half time was decisive. Leandro Grimi underhit a backpass to Sebastián Saja and Marcelo Palau pounced on the chance. As the Uruguayan bumbled the ball past Saja, the goalkeeper pulled him back and the referee had little option but to point to the spot and send off Saja.
The penalty would almost certainly have ended Racing’s hopes of progressing but substitute keeper, Nelson Ibáñez saved Benítez’s spotkick.
Even with the man disadvantage Racing were the better side after the break but were still unable to find a way past Alfredo Aguilar in the Guaraní goal. With time running out and Racing committing more players forward, the Paraguayans should have put the tie beyond doubt.
With neither side finding a goal, Guaraní went through to face River in the semi final and ended Racing’s hopes of lifting the Libertadores for the second time in their history.
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