Junior vs Palmeiras

Junior and Palmeiras shared a hard-earned 1-1 draw at the Estadio Jaime Morón in Cartagena to open Copa Libertadores Group F. The tone was set early when VAR handed the hosts a penalty in just the seventh minute, and Junior made the most of it. Teófilo Gutiérrez stepped up in the 9th minute and cheekily feinted past Palmeiras goalkeeper Carlos Miguel to put Junior ahead. The Brazilians leveled through substitute Ramón Sosa in the 55th minute — a goal that survived its own VAR offside review before being confirmed. The second half belonged to Palmeiras, but they were unable to find a winner despite sustained pressure. Four yellow cards were distributed across both sides, though neither team finished with fewer than eleven men. Both clubs open Group F with a single point. For Junior, holding South American heavyweights to a draw at home is an encouraging start; for Palmeiras, it's an early signal that the group — which also includes Cerro Porteño and Sporting Cristal — won't be a walkover.