Universidad Católica secured a 1-0 away victory against Juventud de Las Piedras in the first leg of their 2026 Copa Libertadores first-stage qualifying matchup on February 5, 2026.
Match Summary
The match, held at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, remained scoreless through the first half, despite a significant missed opportunity for the visitors when José Fajardo failed to convert a penalty in the 45th minute.
The deadlock was broken early in the second half. In the 47th minute, defender Jhon Chancellor headed home a precise cross from Mauro DÃaz following a corner, sending the ball low into the net to give Universidad Católica the decisive lead.Â
Juventud dominated much of the possession and created several late chances to equalize, including notable efforts from Adrián Alaniz and substitute Pablo Lago, but they were unable to beat goalkeeper Sebastián Sosa and a disciplined Católica defense.Â
Key Statistics
| Statistic | Juventud | Universidad Católica |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 0 | 1 |
| Goal Scorer | – | Jhon Chancellor (47′) |
| Yellow Cards | L. Roldan (35′) | E. Mejia (45+5′), E. Clavijo (55′) |
| Penalty Kicks | 0 | 1 (Missed by J. Fajardo, 45′) |
What’s Next
The two teams will meet for the return leg in Ecuador on February 12, 2026 (local time), at the Atahualpa Olympic Stadium, where Universidad Católica holds a crucial one-goal aggregate advantage.