A Bitter Exit in São Paulo
The Copa Libertadores, South America's most prestigious club tournament, saw a dramatic exit for Rosario Central on August 20, 2026. At the Neo Química Arena in São Paulo, Corinthians edged out a 1-0 victory, sealing the tie 1-0 on aggregate after the first leg ended 0-0 at the Gigante de Arroyito in Rosario.
The decisive goal came in the 80th minute when Memphis Depay set up Breno Bidon, who finished calmly to send the Brazilian fans into raptures. But the night could have been very different for the Argentine side.
The Miss That Haunts
In the 73rd minute, Enzo Copetti found himself one-on-one with Corinthians goalkeeper Hugo Souza. With the goal at his mercy, the striker fired over the bar. It was a moment that will linger in the memory of every Rosario Central supporter. Coach Jorge Almirón later said, “There is so much pain because of how the game went and what the team did. We were never closer to advancing. We played a great match; it was decided by one play we should have avoided, especially since we had an extra man.”
Red Card and Extra-Man Advantage
Corinthians were reduced to ten men in the 57th minute when Raniele was shown a straight red card for a brutal challenge on Copetti. Despite playing with a numerical advantage for over half an hour, Rosario Central failed to break through, and their lack of precision in front of goal proved costly.
The Almirón-Diniz Rivalry
The numbers are stark: Jorge Almirón has now lost four of his five Copa Libertadores encounters against Fernando Diniz. The series began with the 2023 final when Diniz's Fluminense beat Almirón's Boca Juniors 2-1 after extra time. In the 2024 group stage, Fluminense twice defeated Colo-Colo (also coached by Almirón). Now, Corinthians added another painful chapter.
Player Ratings from Rosario Central
Journalist Javier Cigno of Rosario3 provided the following individual assessments:
| Player | Rating | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremías Ledesma | 5 | Made a good save but couldn't stop the goal. |
| Emanuel Coronel | 3 | Clumsy foul leading to the opponent's goal. |
| Ignacio Ovando | 6 | Won nearly all his duels. |
| Gastón Ávila | 6 | Solid defensively; had a dangerous shot. |
| Agustín Sández | 5 | Discreet, lacked attacking drive. |
| Franco Ibarra | 5 | Functional without standing out. |
| Federico Navarro | 6 | Best midfielder, intercepted and passed well. |
| Alan Rodríguez | 5.5 | Fought hard. |
| Ángel Di María | 3 | Mistaken in almost every attempt. |
| Jaminton Campaz | 3.5 | Lost the battle against Mateuzinho. |
| Enzo Copetti | 3 | The 'villain' of the elimination: missed an unmissable chance. |
Substitutes Giovanni Cantizano, Julián Fernández, Marco Ruben, and Tomás Badaloni came on but received few clear balls.
Di María's Future in Doubt
Legendary winger Ángel Di María, 38, hinted at possible retirement after the defeat: “I have to think and see what I still want to do,” he said. The 'Fideo' struggled to make an impact in São Paulo and faced criticism for his performance.
What's Next?
Corinthians advance to the quarterfinals where they will meet Estudiantes de La Plata. Diniz's side will aim to continue their continental run. For Rosario Central, the focus shifts to the Torneo Clausura, with a crucial match against Talleres on Monday that could decide Almirón's future.
Source: Rosario3