Last week’s goalless clásico between San Lorenzo and Huracán failed to ignite and while Friday’s second leg at the Estadio Tomás Adolfo Ducó wasn’t much better there was no shortage of drama as El Ciclón booked their place in the Copa Superliga last 16 on penalties.
Fernando Monetti was the hero for San Lorenzo with the goalkeeper denying Huracán a late winner from the spot only to reproduce the trick in the shootout sending Jorge Almirón’s underwhelming side through.
Clear chances were at a premium just as they were a week ago in Bajo Flores but it was Huracán who looked the more likely winners as the game went on. Antonio Mohamed threw on Lucas Gamba and Lucas Barrios in an effort to win it and the pair came so close to having the desired impact.
Gamba tumbled under a challenge from Fabricio Coloccini three minutes from time and after Néstor Pitana pointed to the spot, Barrios had the opportunity to win the derby and the tie. The Paraguayan international stepped up, stuttered his run up and then saw Monetti guess correctly to parry his effort to safety.
The inevitable shootout followed and Barrios once more handed the initiative to San Lorenzo. Both sides had scored their opening efforts when the 34-year-old fired over and when Monetti saved from Andrés Roa, El Ciclón were on the brink.
Youngster Nahuel Barrios missed the first chance to seal it but Andrés Rentería tucked away the fifth and final penalty to end a miserable second half of the season for Huracán and send San Lorenzo through to the last 16, where either Argentinos Juniors or Independiente await.
Huracán 0 – 0 San Lorenzo (AGG 0-0) 3-4 on penalties
Earlier in the Estadio Florencio Sola, Banfield allowed their first leg advantage from La Plata to slip and a 2-0 Estudiantes win saw Gabi Milito set up a last 16 meeting with brother Diego’s Racing Club.
Banfield had started the brighter with Emanuel Cecchini, Claudio Bravo and Agustín Urzi all going close as Hernán Crespo’s side looked to increase their lead. Unable to find a way past Mariano Andújar, it was instead Estudiantes that levelled things up thanks to Facundo Sánchez’s diving header.
Further chances came and went for Banfield and on the hour mark, another free kick swung into the Banfield penalty area saw Estudiantes lead, substitute Nicolás Bértolo this time flicking the ball into his own net.
Pushing further forward in search of a goal, Banfield continued to test Estudiantes but even when Marcelo Torres did have the ball in the net, an incorrect offside flag denied Hernán Crespo’s team.
Estudiantes move on to the last 16 though Superliga champions Racing Club will have seen little to concern them.
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