Sport Recife sealed their qualification for the round of 16 of the Copa Sudamericana despite losing 2-1 to Arsenal de Sarandi.
Thanks to the 2-0 victory in the first leg played at the Adelmar da Costa Carvalho stadium, the team led by former Brazilian national team coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo advanced to the next round.
The team led by Humberto Grondona went in search of reducing the difference in the score from the first minute, but the defense and the performance of the goalkeeper Magrao prevented the visitors from conceding.
Sport Recife focused on controlling the ball in midfield and trying to take advantage of their opponent's desperation to reverse the adverse series.
Arsenal de Sarandi opened the scoring in the 43rd minute when a loose ball in the area allowed young Brunetta to score with a powerful shot that left goalkeeper Magrao with no chance.
In the second half, Grondona made changes to the lineup with the introductions of Franco Fragapane and Rodrigo Contreras, who combined in the 64th minute for the second goal for the home team.
A poor clearance fell to Fragapane, who crossed the ball for Contreras to score, leveling the series.
From that moment on, Sport Recife seemed to wake up and with the combined play of André, Diego Soiza, and the substitutes Rogério and Thomas, they posed a great threat to the goal defended by Pablo Santillo.
In the 82nd minute, they scored the winning goal with a play that ended with a cross that André connected to secure the 2-1 victory.
Arsenal de Sarandi had hopes at home, but Sport Recife managed to seal their qualification for the next phase where they will face Ponte Preta in a Brazilian duel.
Arsenal de Sarandi vs Sport Recife lineups
Arsenal de Sarandi: Pablo Santillo; Sergio Velázquez (m.57, Iván Bella), Marcos Curado, Facundo Monteseirín, and Claudio Corvalán; Leonardo Rolón (m.63, Rodrigo Contreras), Emiliano Papa, Germán Ferreyra, and Federico Milo (m.54, Franco Fragapane); Lucas Wilchez and Juan Francisco Brunetta. Coach: Humberto Grondona.
Sport Recife: Magrao; Samuel Xavier (m.46, Raul Prata), Oswaldo Henríquez, Durval, and Mena; Rithely, Patrick, Diego Souza, and Everton Felipe (m.74, Thomas); Reinaldo Lenis (m.54, Rogério), and André. Coach: Vanderlei Luxemburgo.
Goals: 1-0, m.43: Juan Brunetta. 2-0, m.64: Rodrigo Contreras. 2-1, m.82: André.
Referee: Venezuelan Jesús Valenzuela booked Velázquez, Curado, Wilchez, Papa, Contreras, and Xavier.
EFE