Lanús took a 1-0 win over Flamengo in the first leg of the Recopa Sudamericana, with Rodrigo Castillo scoring the goal that gives the Argentine side the edge ahead of the return match in Rio de Janeiro next week.
Before kickoff, the Brazilian team — featuring players such as Lucas Paquetá — entered as the favorite. However, Lanús matched the visitors and finished the match with the advantage.
Over the 90 minutes, Lanús executed its strategy by staying compact to limit the influence of Flamengo’s attacking midfielders. The Argentine side focused first on keeping a clean sheet through goalkeeper Nahuel Losada before looking for chances going forward.
Eduardo Salvio was part of the Lanús lineup and logged minutes in the match, contributing to the team’s work rate across the pitch.
Clear opportunities were limited for both teams. Flamengo’s best look came from Everton, whose attempt was stopped by Losada. At the other end, Agustín Rossi was in goal for Flamengo and had little intervention until the decisive moment.
Lanús, meanwhile, spent much of the match tracking back and closing spaces. The physical condition of key players such as Marcelino Moreno and Rodrigo Castillo had been a pre-match concern, and the team managed their workload throughout the game.
The breakthrough came late in the match. After having a goal disallowed for offside — his second ruled-out effort of the night — Castillo finally found the net.
Following a cross from Marcich, Castillo rose in the box and scored with a header to give Lanús the lead. The goal proved decisive in the first leg. The 1-0 result sends the Granate to Brazil with the advantage. The Recopa Sudamericana title will be decided next Wednesday at the Maracanã.
