Sao Paulo secured a 2-0 victory over Chile's O’Higgins at the Morumbí stadium on Tuesday night during the second round of the Copa Sudamericana group stage. The result allows the Brazilian side to reach six points in Group C, while the visitors remain on three points, according to reports from La Tercera and BioBioChile.
Brazilian striker Luciano da Rocha Neves opened the scoring just eight minutes into the match. La Tercera reported that the goal came after Jonathan Calleri used his chest to pivot a long ball from Marcos Antonio, finding Luciano for a low shot from outside the area that beat goalkeeper Omar Carabalí.
Despite the early deficit, O’Higgins pushed for an equalizer through a performance characterized by high possession and pressure. BioBioChile noted that the Chilean side fought on equal terms and created several scoring opportunities, particularly in the first half.
Arnaldo Castillo, Bryan Rabello, and Martín Sarrafiore all struggled with finishing during the first period. La Tercera highlighted a specific moment at the 33rd minute when Castillo found himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Rafael following a pass from Juan Leiva, but the Brazilian keeper made a brilliant save to prevent the equalizer.
Missed opportunities and disallowed goals
Sao Paulo extended their lead in the 55th minute through Artur Victor Guimarães. La Tercera detailed the play, noting that Calleri provided the assist to conclude a well-executed collective move.
O’Higgins attempted to respond with substitutions, bringing on Martín Maturana and Thiago Vecino as manager Lucas Bovaglio sought more offensive impact. During a hydration break in the 24th minute, Bovaglio addressed his players directly, telling them, “It is a matter of daring a bit more,” according to La Tercera.
Controversy arose in the 76th minute when O’Higgins thought they had pulled a goal back through Matías Vecino. However, Argentine referee Darío Herrera disallowed the goal, citing a foul by the forward on Rafael Tolói, as reported by both outlets.
While BioBioChile emphasized that O'Higgins' lack of clinical finishing was their primary failure, La Tercera noted that the team's inability to connect their attacking lines left them vulnerable to the Brazilian counter-attacks. The match concluded with Sao Paulo successfully closing down spaces to protect their lead.
