Estudiantes stun holders Flamengo to reach Copa Libertadores final

Veteran goalkeeper Fernando Muslera saved three penalties as Argentina's Estudiantes stunned defending champions Flamengo at the Maracaná Stadium on Thursday to reach the Copa Libertadores final.

The Argentine side prevailed 3-2 in the shootout after holding the Brazilian giants to a 0-0 draw, despite playing most of the second half of a tense semi-final second leg with 10 men.

Uruguayan international Muslera, 40, was the hero for Estudiantes, denying Jorginho, Lucas Paqueta and Bruno Henrique from the spot to seal a place in the November 28 final against Palmeiras at Montevideo's Estadio Centenario.

Estudiantes were reduced to 10 men in the 50th minute when Baltasar Rodríguez was sent off after collecting a second yellow card.

But the visitors produced a gritty defensive display to frustrate Flamengo and force a shootout after both legs of the semi-final finished goalless.

In next month's final Estudiantes will be aiming to break Brazilian football's seven-year winning streak in the prestigious continental club tournament, which is South America's equivalent of Europe's Champions League.

Brazilian teams have won the Libertadores every year since 2019.

Estudiantes will be chasing their fifth victory in the competition and their first since lifting the trophy in 2009.

– TIMES/AFP