(VIDEO) Palmeiras edge Cristal in hard-fought win
Palmeiras had to work harder than expected to secure a 2-1 victory over Sporting Cristal in São Paulo, reaching a historic milestone in the Copa Libertadores.
Palmeiras had to work harder than expected to secure a 2-1 victory over Sporting Cristal in São Paulo, reaching a historic milestone in the Copa Libertadores.
The Brazilian side surpassed 500 goals in the competition, placing them among the top scoring clubs in Libertadores history.
Murilo scores historic goal, Cristal respond
Palmeiras dominated early but struggled to convert chances. The breakthrough came in the 27th minute when Murilo scored with a header from a corner, marking the club’s 500th goal in the tournament.
Sporting Cristal responded before halftime through Juan González, who struck a stunning volley to level the match at 1-1.
VAR plays decisive role
In the second half, Palmeiras faced a resilient opponent and struggled to regain control.
The VAR first ruled out a goal by ‘Flaco’ López for offside, but later awarded a penalty after a foul on Arthur Gabriel.
‘Flaco’ López converted the spot kick with ten minutes remaining to secure the 2-1 win.
Cristal pushed for an equalizer late on but fell short, allowing Palmeiras to claim the win and move to the top of Group F.
