Racing of Argentina pulled off a historic comeback at the Presidente Perón Stadium, defeating Peñarol 3-1 to knock out the Uruguayan side from the Copa Libertadores. The team from Avellaneda overturned the first-leg loss in Montevideo and secured a spot in the quarterfinals with a dramatic stoppage-time winner.

The hero of the night was Adrián “Maravilla” Martínez, who scored a brace (7’ and 83’ from the penalty spot) to become the club’s all-time top scorer in international competitions with 17 goals. The decisive third goal came in the 93rd minute through a header from Franco Pardo, sending the home crowd into euphoria.

Peñarol had momentarily equalized with a header from Nahuel Herrera in the 15th minute, which restored their aggregate advantage. Just before halftime, Marcos Rojo celebrated what looked like a goal, but Colombian referee Wilmar Roldán disallowed it after VAR review for a foul on Javier Méndez.

Racing’s Relentless Pressure Paid Off

In the second half, Peñarol tried to hold onto the draw by sitting back and counterattacking. However, Racing’s persistence finally broke through. In the 80th minute, Colombian Duván Vergara forced a save from Chilean goalkeeper Brayan Cortés, but in the rebound, Emanuel Gularte fouled Martínez, leading to a penalty that the striker confidently converted.

That goal fired up the home side even more, as they pushed forward in search of the decisive strike. With the game seemingly heading to penalties, a free kick in the 93rd minute found Franco Pardo, who sealed the victory with a powerful header past Cortés.

An All-Argentine Quarterfinal Clash

With this triumph, Racing advances to the quarterfinals, where they will face Vélez Sarsfield. The club from Liniers eliminated Brazil’s Fortaleza with a 2-0 win at home after a goalless draw in the first leg.

This sets up an all-Argentine clash in the next round of the Libertadores, with both teams aiming for a place in the semifinals. For Racing, the dramatic night against Peñarol will be remembered as one of those epic comebacks that enrich their continental legacy.