A time for each: Lanús and Universidad de Chile tied

In the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana semifinals , Universidad de Chile and Lanús drew 2-2. In the other tie, in Quito, Independiente del Valle and Atlético Mineiro drew 1-1.

The match was played behind closed doors as part of the sanction imposed by Conmebol on the Chilean club following the incidents in the match against Independiente. The result was a 2-2 draw, with a controversial ending.

The first few minutes were a study. The Chilean team tried to maintain possession, while the Granate remained patient and held back, aiming to quickly counterattack. However, neither side was able to prevail, and the first 15 minutes passed without any clear-cut chances.

The Argentine team took the lead in the 25th minute through Rodrigo Castillo . The forward pressed the home side's defensive line, recovered the ball, and saw goalkeeper Gabriel Castellón out of position. He didn't hesitate and fired a long-range shot to make it 1-0 and send the visiting bench into a frenzy.

It didn't take long for the 2-0 to arrive. And it was Castillo who scored. After a great run down the right followed by a low cross from Eduardo Salvio, the striker only had to tap the ball in and celebrate his new goal.

At the start of the second half, the tone of the match continued in the same vein: the home team had possession of the ball and the Argentine team was ready to steal the ball and attack quickly.

However, the Chilean side managed to score just after the hour mark. Lanús goalkeeper Nahuel Losada failed to clear a header from a corner inside the box, leaving the ball open to Argentine striker Lucas Di Yorio, who only had to tap it in.

In the 72nd minute, Castellón denied Castillo. El Granate strung together a series of passes in the opponent's half and brought Sasha Marcich inside the box. The full-back took his time and whipped in a lofted cross for the striker, who headed it in and challenged the goalkeeper.

In the final play of the match, Brazilian referee Anderson Daronco awarded a penalty to the home side for a handball by Agustín Cardozo inside the box . Despite the entire Lanús team appealing for a foul on the midfielder, the VAR did not request the referee's presence. The penalty was taken by the legendary Charles Aránguiz, who fired home the ball to make it 2-2.

The return match will be on Thursday, October 30, at the Néstor Díaz Pérez Stadium in Lanús. On the other side of the draw, Independiente del Valle drew 1-1 against Atlético Mineiro in Ecuador.