Latin America Sports Daily for Saturday, February 21, 2026

Deportes Tolima secured a crucial 1–0 away victory over Deportivo Táchira at Estadio Pueblo Nuevo in San Cristóbal, completing the first-leg picture of the Copa Libertadores second qualifying stage. Colombian coach Lucas González Vélez made the decisive move when he introduced Kelvin Flórez from the bench in the second half — the striker needed just five minutes to capitalise on a defensive mistake, reacting quickly to a loose ball and converting from close range in the 65th minute. Tolima dominated possession with 63.7% of the ball and registered five shots on target to Táchira’s three, though the Venezuelan hosts created enough to suggest this tie is far from settled. Controversy had already arrived when Delvin Alfonzo threw an elbow during a challenge, escaping with only a yellow card. On the Táchira bench, Uruguayan coaching legend Álvaro Recoba acknowledged his side struggled to impose their game but insisted the series remained alive. The return leg takes place Thursday, February 26 at the Manuel Murillo Toro Stadium in Ibagué.

Pachuca produced the comeback of the Liga MX Jornada 7 Friday night, recovering from a goal down to beat ten-man Tigres 2–1 at the Estadio Universitario in Monterrey — capped by a goal that will be replayed for weeks. Tigres struck first through Ozziel Herrera in the 39th minute, finishing a slick move started by Argentine playmaker Ángel Correa, who recovered from a fall on the left flank to thread the decisive pass for Herrera’s crisp finish into the far corner. Venezuelan striker Salomón Rondón had earlier had a goal disallowed by VAR for a foul in the build-up, sparking heated touchline exchanges between both benches. The match tilted dramatically when Tigres centre-back Joaquim was sent off in the 50th minute for a last-man foul. Down to ten, Guido Pizarro’s hosts held firm until the 79th minute, when Rondón rose unmarked from a corner to power a header past Nahuel Guzmán. Then came the moment of the night: Brazilian winger Robert Kenedy, on as a 74th-minute substitute, won the ball in midfield in the 88th minute, spotted Guzmán off his line, and launched an audacious chip from near the halfway line that sailed into the net.

Club América answered their Clásico Nacional defeat to Chivas in emphatic fashion, thumping Puebla 4–0 at the Estadio Cuauhtémoc in the late Friday kickoff. André Jardine’s side were clinical from start to finish, with Brazilian midfielder Raphael Veiga opening the scoring in the 43rd minute off an Isaías Violante assist. Violante then got on the scoresheet himself in the 61st minute, before Chilean winger Víctor Dávila made it three in the 78th and substitute Raúl Zúñiga completed the rout in the 87th. América dominated possession at 73.8% and never allowed Puebla — who sit on just five points in the lower half of the table — any meaningful route back into the match. The result lifts América to 11 points and restores confidence ahead of a Jornada 8 visit to Tigres.

Belgrano’s bid to stay atop the Apertura standings survived a dramatic final-minute twist at Norberto Tomaghello, where a 96th-minute Aaron Molinas penalty salvaged a 1–1 draw for Defensa y Justicia. Lucas Zelarayán had given Belgrano the lead in the 54th minute, and the visitors from Córdoba looked set to extend their advantage at the summit — until the referee pointed to the spot deep in stoppage time. Molinas, the former Boca Juniors playmaker, stepped up and buried the penalty into the top right corner, rescuing a point for the hosts. Despite the late heartbreak, Belgrano move to 12 points from six matches (3W 3D 0L), maintaining their unbeaten record and sitting joint-top of the Apertura. Defensa y Justicia climb to 10 points with the draw. Belgrano’s possession was dominant at 57.1%, but both sides mustered three shots on target apiece in a closely contested affair.

Estudiantes de La Plata extended their unbeaten start to the Apertura with a workmanlike 1–0 victory over Sarmiento de Junín at the Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi. Midfielder Alexis Castro scored the only goal five minutes into the second half, breaking through a stubborn Sarmiento rearguard that had held firm through a competitive first 45 minutes. With Fernando Muslera commanding in goal, Estudiantes edged possession at 51.8% and limited Sarmiento to just one shot on target. The result lifts Estudiantes to 12 points from six matches — joining Belgrano at the top of the combined table — while Sarmiento remain in the lower half on six points from six games. Estudiantes’ early-season form has been built on defensive solidity, and another clean sheet reinforces their credentials as genuine Apertura contenders under Eduardo Domínguez.

One of Argentine football’s great rivalries produced precious little Friday night as Boca Juniors and Racing Club played out a cagey 0–0 draw at La Bombonera. Despite fielding Edinson Cavani and Miguel Merentiel up front in a 4-4-2 formation, Boca failed to muster a single shot on target across 90 minutes. Racing were marginally the better side, controlling 53.2% possession and creating seven shot attempts to Boca’s four, but neither keeper — Agustín Marchesín for Boca, Gabriel Arias for Racing — was seriously troubled. The match was marred by seven yellow cards across both sides, reflecting the intensity of the occasion if not the quality. For Boca, the draw extends a frustrating run that leaves them mid-table on eight points after six matches (2W 2D 2L). Racing pick up a point to move to seven, but neither side can be satisfied with the result.

Carlos Tevez’s Talleres de Córdoba pulled off the late-night smash-and-grab at the Gigante de Arroyito, beating Rosario Central 1–0 despite surrendering 68.7% possession. Ronaldo Martínez scored the only goal in the 42nd minute, capitalising on a defensive lapse to give Talleres an unlikely half-time lead that they defended with grit and discipline for the entire second half. Central, coached by Jorge Almirón and featuring Ángel Di María, Enzo Copetti, and Alejo Véliz in attack, launched 14 shot attempts and won 12 corners — but Talleres’ goalkeeper and defensive unit held firm, restricting the hosts to just four shots on target. The result pushes Talleres to 10 points and into the upper reaches of the Apertura table, while Central remain on eight points despite having dominated possession in most of their matches this season.

Thursday’s 1–0 first-leg defeat means Flamengo will need to overturn a deficit at the Maracanã on February 26 to claim their second Recopa Sudamericana. The four-time Libertadores champions will be buoyed by their home record and the expected return of some key personnel, but Lanús — Copa Sudamericana 2025 winners — have already proven they can frustrate the Brasileirão champions on the biggest stage. Mauricio Pellegrino’s side limited Flamengo to a single shot on target over 90 minutes at La Fortaleza, and the tactical blueprint that neutralised Lucas Paquetá, Giorgian de Arrascaeta, and Everton will be the template for the return. Rodrigo Castillo, who headed home the winner after having two goals disallowed, carries the form and the confidence. Flamengo boss Filipe Luís will be assessing the fitness of suspended winger Gonzalo Plata and injured midfielders Jorginho and Saúl Ñíguez ahead of the crucial second leg. For Lanús, goalkeeper Nahuel Losada’s performance on Thursday was the standout — his shot-stopping will need to be replicated in the cauldron of the Maracanã.

With 12 days until the 2026 World Baseball Classic opens in Tokyo on March 5, the exhibition calendar took a brief pause Friday. Cuba and Nicaragua, who played to a 2–2 tie in their opening exhibition at Estadio Roberto Clemente in Masaya on Wednesday, have an off day before resuming their four-game Serie Internacional de Béisbol on Sunday, February 22 at Estadio Rigoberto López Pérez in León. In that first game, Cuban starter Raymond Figueredo went 3⅔ innings, while reliever Yunieski García — part of Cuba’s designated player pool — kept Nicaragua’s bats quiet through the middle innings. Cuba’s roster for the Nicaragua series is mostly made up of players outside the 30-man WBC squad, with NPB stars Liván Moinelo and Raidel Martínez slated to join later. Meanwhile in Asia, South Korea fell 4–3 to the Samsung Lions in a seven-inning exhibition in Okinawa, while Australia continued their camp in Fuchū, Tokyo against industrial league teams.

Saturday’s action spans the continent. In Mexico, the headline is unmissable: perfect Chivas (6–0–0, 18 points) visit Cruz Azul at the Estadio Cuauhtémoc — the Cementeros’ temporary home in Puebla — in a clash that could define the Clausura 2026 title race. Chivas haven’t started a Liga MX campaign this strongly since 2010, and Gabriel Milito’s side head to Puebla off the back of their Clásico Nacional triumph over América. Cruz Azul, meanwhile, carry their own momentum and will be eager to prove they’re the real threat to the Rebaño Sagrado’s dominance.

In Brazil, the Paulistão quarterfinals begin with single-match eliminations: Bragantino vs São Paulo (6:30 PM) and Palmeiras vs Capivariano (8:30 PM) on Saturday, followed by Novorizontino vs Santos and Portuguesa vs Corinthians on Sunday. The Carioca semifinals are also underway with two-legged ties: Fluminense vs Vasco and Flamengo vs Madureira on Sunday evening, with return legs March 1–2.

Argentina’s Apertura Fecha 6 continues Saturday with Platense vs Barracas Central, Independiente Rivadavia vs Independiente, Banfield vs Newell’s, and Deportivo Riestra vs Huracán. Sunday brings Vélez Sarsfield vs River Plate — another marquee fixture — plus Central Córdoba vs Tigre and Argentinos Juniors vs Lanús (if scheduled).