America de Cali vs Racing Club (Historical Matches)
Goalkeeper Robinson Zapata saved a penalty and scored another, giving América of Colombia a victory over Racing of Argentina in the shootout, advancing to the quarterfinals of the 2003 Copa Libertadores.
The match ended 0-0, and since the first match ended 1-1, penalties decided América's 6-5 victory.
Zapata saved a penalty from Luis Rueda and then beat Gustavo Campagnuolo.
For Racing, the penalties were scored by Colombian Gerardo Bedoya, Sixto Peralta, Guillermo Rivarola, Paraguayan Roberto Amarilla, and Chilean Mirosevic.
For América, the scorers were Jairo Castillo, Edier Londoño, Jhon Tierradentro, Luis Asprilla, Fabián Vargas, and finally Zapata.
From the start, Racing took a disorganized lead, while América, with its slow and subtle touch, cooled the home side's momentum.
Just after the quarter-hour mark, América sounded the alarm when a cross from Killian Virviescas was met with a right-footed header by David Ferreira, barely missing the post.
Four minutes later, Racing responded with another dangerous opportunity after a cross from Diego Milito was headed down by Sixto Peralta to Luis Rueda, who, almost from the penalty spot, shot with little conviction into the hands of Robinson Zapata.
From then on, the match entered a slumber, only to be shaken off in the 31st minute when Jorge Banguero broke down the right and his cross was capitalized on by Jairo Castillo with a shot that just went wide.
And then, Zapata saved a clear goal from Condor Rueda, a surprising half-turn in front of some 40,000 Racing fans and a handful of Colombians who must have been hoarse from cheering so much.
In the second half, Racing took the lead, and in the 56th minute, Milito's furious shot hit the crossbar with Zapata already beaten.
With that telegram predicting a goal, Racing stood defiant, and in the 61st minute, Rueda chested down a pass from Sebastian Romero and sent it over the bar.
América, meanwhile, began to take defensive precautions, leaving control of the ball and the field to their opponent, who lacked composure at the crucial moment, as happened on two scoring chances that Chilean Milovan Mirosevic almost didn't convert.
At the final whistle and before the penalty shootout, Claudio Ubeda and Leonardo Moreno were sent off for mutual aggression.
LINE-UPS:
RACING: Gustavo Campagnuolo, Martín Vitali (88-Guillermo Rivarola), Roberto Amarilla, Claudio Ubeda, Sixto Peralta, Adrián Bastía, Gerardo Bedoya, Sebastian Romero (69-Milovan Mirosevic), Mariano González (85-Facundo Bonvín), Diego Milito, and Luis Rueda.
AMERICA: Robinson Zapata, Rubén Bustos, John Tierradentro, Luis Asprilla, Killian Virviescas, Fabián Vargas, Jorge Banguero, David Ferreira (89-Edier Londoño), Jairo Castillo, Luis Cifuentes, and Julián Vásquez (74-Leonardo Moreno).
Referee: Epifanio González (Paraguay).