Flamengo 0-0 Estudiantes (2-3 on penalties): Muslera Heroics Send Estudiantes into Copa Libertadores Final

Fernando Muslera played the starring role as Estudiantes, reduced to 10 men in the second half, knocked out defending champions Flamengo to reach the Copa Libertadores final. The Uruguayan goalkeeper carried his side to victory with 3 saves in the penalty shootout.

With both legs of the semi-final ending goalless, the tie went to penalties, where Muslera stood tall to deny Jorginho, Lucas Paquetá and Bruno Henrique, handing the Argentine side a 3-2 shootout win.

Estudiantes, who played most of the match a man down after Baltasar Rodríguez was sent off for a second yellow card in the 50th minute, will now face Palmeiras in the final at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo on 28 November.

Estudiantes started brightly and came close to an early goal through Santiago Núñez and Marcos Rojo, but Flamengo goalkeeper Agustín Rossi produced 2 crucial saves. The tempo dropped towards the end of the first half, and the game took on a new dimension right after the restart when Rodríguez was shown red following an unnecessary foul on Jorginho. Flamengo took control against their depleted opponents and created danger through Paquetá, but could not find a way past Muslera, and the finalist was decided on penalties.

In a nerve-shredding shootout, Giorgian de Arrascaeta and José Sosa both converted, before Jorginho, with his stuttering run-up, failed to beat Muslera. Estudiantes could not capitalise on the advantage after Edwuin Cetré missed, but Muslera dived to his right to keep out Lucas Paquetá's effort as well. After further successful kicks on both sides, the experienced goalkeeper stepped up once more, diving to the same corner to stop Bruno Henrique's penalty and send the Estudiantes fans at the Maracanã into delirium.

With this historic performance, Muslera has taken Estudiantes to their first Libertadores final since 2009. The Argentine club will be aiming to become the first non-Brazilian side to lift the trophy since River Plate's triumph in 2018, and to end their neighbours' 7-year dominance.