CONMEBOL Libertadores
(VIDEO) Platense Makes History After Defeating Coquimbo Unido on Penalties in the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores
In their debut in the continental tournament, El Calamar remain in contention for the title. Here are all the details of their historic achievement.… Show More
In their debut in the continental tournament, El Calamar remain in contention for the title. Here are all the details of their historic achievement.
Argentine club Platense has once again written its name in golden letters, as its debut in the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores continues to make history. On Wednesday, Platense advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating Chilean side Coquimbo Unido 7-6 on penalties, following an intense 0-0 draw in the second leg of the Round of 16 at Estadio Francisco Sánchez Rumoroso in this city in northern Chile. The aggregate score had finished 1-1, following the first-leg result.
Goalkeeper Juan Pablo Cozzani was the star of the night, and the side coached by former Argentine striker Martín Palermo will head into the quarterfinals full of confidence and with nothing to lose against Brazilian club Fluminense, their opponent in the last-eight stage.
Platense Hold Firm in Coquimbo to Take the Series to Penalties
Martín Palermo's side faced a high-pressure showdown at Estadio Francisco Sánchez Rumoroso. With the series level at 1-1 after the first leg in Buenos Aires, both teams needed a victory to avoid a penalty shootout.
Coquimbo Unido took the initiative for much of the first half and found space to threaten Cozzani's goal. Cristian Zavala, Sebastián Galani and Luis Riveros all tried their luck, but none could beat the Argentine goalkeeper.
The clearest chance came in the 34th minute, when Guido Vadalá found himself one-on-one with Cozzani. The Platense goalkeeper came off his line quickly to make the save and keep his side's goal intact.
The Argentine side also had its chances before halftime. Luciano Giménez was involved in a move that ended with Nicolás Retamar in a promising position, while Diego Sánchez later denied a powerful effort from Pablo Ferreira.
The Argentine Goalkeeper Delivers When It Matters Most
After halftime, the game lost some of its intensity and turned into a tactical battle. Coquimbo struggled to maintain its attacking pressure, while Platense began to control possession better and found more space around the penalty area.
The Argentine side came close to breaking the deadlock through a Franco Zapiola free kick that was cleared by Sánchez and a Nicolás López shot that struck the crossbar.
Coquimbo responded with a few chances from Alejandro Azócar, but neither side could change the scoreline. With the final score 0-0, the tie went to penalties.
In the shootout, Platense kept its composure to prevail 7-6. The decisive moment came with Coquimbo's seventh kick: Cozzani guessed correctly and saved Salvador Cordero's attempt, sparking the visitors' celebrations and sealing a historic qualification.
The Calamar's Next Challenge
With this victory, Platense reached the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals for the first time, an unprecedented achievement for the club in South America's premier club competition.
The next challenge will be even bigger. Palermo's side will face Brazilian club Fluminense for a place in the final four of the 2026 Libertadores.
The victory over Coquimbo represents more than simply advancing to the next round: it also establishes El Calamar as one of the standout teams of this year's tournament.
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