The Round of 16 for the 2024 Copa Sudamericana kicked off on Tuesday, August 12. In a thrilling all-Brazilian encounter, Bragantino faced Corinthians at Estádio Santa Cruz in São Paulo, while Argentine club Racing went up against Chile’s Huachipato in Viña del Mar, Chile.
The Round of 16 matches are structured as two-leg series, offering each team an opportunity to host a game on their home turf. The aggregate score will determine the team advancing to the quarter-finals. If the series is tied, the winner will be decided through a penalty shootout.
Here’s an overview of the events so far in the Round of 16 of the Copa Sudamericana.
Talles Magno Propels Corinthians to Triumph Over Bragantino
Corinthians, who weren’t the favorites in their matchup, secured a 1-2 victory away against their Brazilian counterparts Bragantino in the first leg of their Round of 16 clash.
Giovane scored the opening goal in the 6th minute, with Thales Magno adding another just 7 minutes after to put Corinthians ahead 2-0. Bragantino managed to score later in the second half, thanks to Helinho, which kept their hopes alive for the second leg.
The match saw Corinthians capitalize on Bragantino’s shaky defense, which appeared unprepared. The early goals placed Bragantino on the back foot, making it difficult for them to bounce back. Despite having more possession and taking 10 more shots than Corinthians, they couldn’t overcome the initial setback.
Corinthians’ offense was particularly strong in the first half, with Thales Magno leading the charge alongside Pedro Raul.
In the latter half, they adopted a more cautious strategy to deny Bragatino any easy chances from counterattacks. This strategy ultimately proved effective, even though Bragatino managed to net a goal following a scramble in the box.
Bragatino faces a challenging road ahead as they head to Arena Corinthians, trailing by one goal. Conversely, Corinthians need only a draw at home to secure their place in the quarterfinals. With a lead at the halfway point of this series, they are the clear favorites to move forward.
The second leg is scheduled for August 20th.
Racing Takes Commanding 2-0 Advantage Over Huachipato
In another Round of 16 encounter on Tuesday, Racing Club secured a 2-0 victory against Chilean side Huachipato on their home turf. Adrián Martínez opened the scoring, followed by a penalty from Juan Fernando Quintero later in the match.
Martínez’s goal came in the 32nd minute, as he latched onto a pass from the left and skillfully slotted it past the Huachipato goalkeeper with his right foot. This gave Racing Club a stronghold on the game, as they controlled possession throughout the first half.
In the second half, Maravilla was brought down in the box by Fabián Cerda, prompting a VAR review and a subsequent penalty call by Roberto Bruno Pérez Gutiérrez. Quintero, who had substituted for Johan Carbonero, calmly converted the penalty to double Racing Club’s lead.
Racing Club had several more chances to extend their lead but were unable to capitalize. The most notable opportunity saw Agustín Almendra’s powerful shot ricochet off the crossbar.
The upcoming match in the series is set to be held in Argentina, a venue that is expected to benefit Racing Club. This event is scheduled for Tuesday, August 20, at around 5:00 pm local time. The victor will go on to compete against the winner of the Belgrano versus Paranaense match.
