Palmeiras achieved their inaugural victory in the 2026 Libertadores campaign, securing a dramatic 2-1 triumph over Sporting Cristal on Thursday, the 16th. Murilo and Flaco López were the goalscorers for Palmeiras, while Juan González found the net for the Peruvian team. The match remained level until the final moments, when a penalty, awarded after a VAR review, allowed Argentine striker Flaco López to convert the winning goal.
The game largely consisted of Palmeiras dominating possession in the attacking third, with Sporting Cristal focusing on defending their goal. Despite creating several promising attacking sequences, it was center-back Murilo who broke the deadlock. Following a short corner, Allan delivered a precise cross, and Murilo rose highest to head the ball into the net.
Sporting Cristal offered little threat offensively in the first half, but their equalizer was a moment of brilliance. Juan González leveled the score with a stunning first-time volley from outside the penalty area. The goal visibly impacted Palmeiras and the home crowd at Allianz Parque, leading to some unforced errors and growing impatience from the stands.
Flaco López initially thought he had scored a second for Palmeiras with a header from another set-piece, but the goal was disallowed for offside. The decisive goal only came from the penalty spot, awarded after a foul on Arthur was confirmed by VAR. Flaco López calmly converted the spot-kick.
In the dying minutes, Sporting Cristal pushed for an equalizer and nearly succeeded, but Carlos Miguel produced a miraculous save to deny a close-range header, preserving Palmeiras’ hard-fought victory.
