More Teams Book Their Place in the Copa Libertadores

The 2024 Copa Libertadores field grew by two on Wednesday night as Sporting Cristal and Deportes Tolima survived white-knuckle qualifiers to secure passage to the group stage.

At Estadio Alberto Gallardo, Sporting Cristal needed every nerve to edge Venezuela’s Carabobo FC. After the sides finished 2-2 on aggregate, the Peruvian side prevailed 3-2 in the ensuing penalty shootout, sending the home crowd into delirium and Cristal into Pot 4 of Friday’s draw.

Across the continent in Ibagué, Tolima completed a dramatic turnaround against an unnamed first-leg loser. Trailing 1-0 after the opener, the Colombian outfit levelled the tie and then watched Juan Pablo Torres etch his name into club lore, smashing home the decisive goal three minutes from time to clinch a 2-1 aggregate success.

The victories mean Sporting Cristal and Tolima join Universidad Central, Platense, Independiente Rivadavia, Mirassol and Barcelona SC in Pot 4. One berth remains unclaimed; Independiente de Medellín and Juventud will decide it on Thursday evening.