Goalkeeper Fernando Muslera saved three penalties on Thursday as 10-man Estudiantes de La Plata beat defending champion Flamengo 3-2 in a shootout to reach the Copa Libertadores final at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
The Argentine side reached the continental showpiece for the first time in 17 years, according to nampa.org, surviving more than 70 minutes with 10 men after a second-half red card.
How the semifinal second leg unfolded
Estudiantes was reduced to 10 men in the 50th minute of the semifinal second leg when midfielder Baltasar Rodriguez was sent off for a second bookable offense within 15 minutes, ESPN reported. Neither side managed a goal in the 90 minutes at the Maracana, and the tie went to penalties.
Muslera then became the decisive figure. He saved from Bruno Henrique, diving to his right to clinch the shootout 3-2, a moment Infobae described as the moment the tie was placed entirely in the goalkeeper's hands.
After 17 years of waiting, the La Plata club returns to a Copa Libertadores final.
The last time Estudiantes reached this stage, in 2009, the club went on to win the title under Juan Sebastian Veron. The current squad will face Brazilian side Palmeiras in the final, according to AP News.
Why the win matters for Estudiantes
Estudiantes de La Plata is one of Argentina's most decorated clubs, and a Libertadores title would add a fifth star to its badge. The 2009 triumph remains the club's most recent continental crown, and Thursday's win in Rio restores it to South America's biggest stage after nearly two decades.
Beating Flamengo away from home carries extra weight. The Rio club is the defending champion and one of the tournament's most consistent forces in recent years, and Estudiantes eliminated it in its own stadium.
Flamengo's title defense ends at the Maracana
Flamengo arrived at the second leg with the tie level and the advantage of playing at home, but the shootout defeat ends its bid for back-to-back titles. Bruno Henrique, one of the club's senior forwards, saw the decisive kick saved, and the team's campaign closed at the semifinal stage.
Flamengo must now regroup for domestic competition while Palmeiras, the other Brazilian finalist, carries the host nation's hopes into the final.
What happens next
Estudiantes will face Palmeiras in the single-match Copa Libertadores final, with the winner earning South America's berth in the FIFA Club World Cup. The final gives Muslera, a veteran of two World Cup campaigns with Uruguay, a chance to close his career chapter with another continental title.
Frequently asked questions
Who saved the penalties for Estudiantes?
Goalkeeper Fernando Muslera saved three penalties in the shootout, including the decisive stop against Bruno Henrique.
Why did Estudiantes play with 10 men?
Baltasar Rodriguez was sent off in the 50th minute after receiving a second yellow card within 15 minutes.
Who will Estudiantes play in the final?
Estudiantes will face Brazilian club Palmeiras in the Copa Libertadores final.
When did Estudiantes last reach the final?
The club's previous Copa Libertadores final appearance came in 2009, when it won the title, 17 years before this run.