Barcelona edge Argentinos Juniors on penalties to advance in Libertadores

Barcelona SC secured a dramatic qualification in the Copa Libertadores by eliminating Argentinos Juniors at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.

Barcelona SC secured a dramatic qualification in the Copa Libertadores by eliminating Argentinos Juniors at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.

After losing the first leg in Guayaquil, Barcelona needed an away victory and delivered with a 1-0 result in regulation time. Jhonny Quiñónez scored in the 66th minute to level the aggregate score and force a penalty shootout.

Disallowed goal and shootout drama

Argentinos thought they had taken the lead in the 11th minute through Nicolás Oro, but the goal was overturned after a VAR review for a prior handball.

The hosts pushed forward and created chances, though they missed the presence of injured striker Tomás Molina. In the second half, Hernán López Muñoz tested José Contreras before Quiñónez struck from distance to shift the tie.

In the penalty shootout, Argentinos failed to convert three attempts, while Barcelona missed twice but proved more clinical overall to seal progression to Phase 3.