Palmeiras vs Sporting Cristal

Palmeiras claimed a hard-fought 2-1 win over Sporting Cristal at the Allianz Parque in São Paulo on April 16, bouncing back in Copa Libertadores Group F. The decisive moment came in the 79th minute when Flaco López calmly slotted home a VAR-awarded penalty to seal the three points for the hosts. Murilo had given Palmeiras the lead with a header in the 26th minute, only for Juan Cruz González to draw Sporting Cristal level with a crisp strike from outside the box on the stroke of half-time. The second half was tense — López saw a goal ruled out for offside in the 63rd, Allan rattled the post at 75', and a controversial VAR review ultimately awarded the spot-kick that decided the contest. The result hands Palmeiras their first win of the group stage after an opening draw, while Sporting Cristal — who had entered matchday two on the back of a victory over Cerro Porteño — absorb their first defeat and face a tougher climb in Group F.