Corinthians qualifies in a game marked by confusion, and Luxa scolds Ryan

The coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo apologized for celebrating Ryanyoung man who scored the winning goal for the Corinthians over the University, by 2 to 1, in the return game of the playoffs of the round of 16 of the Copa Sudamericana. Timão confirmed the aggregate score by 3-1 – including the simple victory at Neo Química Arena.

At 47 minutes, the 20-year-old boy scored, took off his shirt and showed it to the opposing crowd. The gesture irritated the players of the Peruvian team, who attacked and caused widespread confusion among athletes from Universitario, Timão and the military police.

“I want to make an apology, my athlete is young, he’s only 20 years old, it’s the first time he’s been on an international trip, he scored an important goal and transcended football. I want to apologize to the fans, the opposing coach and the players. It was not our intention, I have a lot of affection and respect for the people here, I came many times. I want to apologize for this moment that transcended football, it was a gesture from a boy who had never left the country”, said before starting the press conference.

Despite scolding the boy’s celebration, Luxa highlighted the hostile atmosphere of the match in Lima due to the preventive arrest of physical trainer Sebastian Avellino. The Uruguayan was arrested in São Paulo after being caught committing a racist act in the first leg, at the Neo Química Arena, on Tuesday last week.

“When I came here, I said that you have to respect the laws of a country. In Peru it is one law, in Brazil it is another. We didn’t do anything in our stadium with them. It is a problem of justice. This got me worried. Our justice has a law and the physical trainer did something that was not good for us. What does football have to do with it? We didn’t do anything with them there, we just played football. We have to be very careful for something that leaves the field, enters it. This climate of insecurity is not good.” said the alvinegro coach.

When the Corinthians delegation arrived at the monument, some of the fans imitated the sound of a monkey for the Timão players.

Corinthians beat Universitario-PER by 2-1, away from home, and secured qualification for the round of 16 of the Copa Sudamericana by an aggregate score of 3-1. The team from São Paulo will face Newell`s Old Boys, from Argentina , in the fight for a spot in the quarterfinals.