Montevideo City Torque Completes Heroic Comeback Against Cienciano to Reach Semifinals

Montevideo City Torque needed a perfect night to stay alive in the Copa Sudamericana, and they found it in the most dramatic way possible.

The Uruguayan side overturned the tie against Cienciano, winning 3-0 in Montevideo and sealing a place in the semifinals with a stoppage-time goal from Nahuel da Silva.

Cienciano arrived in Uruguay with a 2-0 advantage from the first leg and, during the opening minutes, even went searching for the goal that could have virtually put the tie beyond reach.

Neri Bandiera had the first opportunity after just three minutes, while Marcos Martinich also tried his luck from long range. Montevideo City Torque struggled to find space early on, but gradually began to establish themselves around the Peruvian side's penalty area.

Salomón Rodríguez Brings Torque Back Into the Tie

Hope arrived in the 38th minute.

Following a free kick and a rebound inside the box, Salomón Rodríguez did not hesitate and fired a first-time effort toward goal. Ítalo Espinoza managed to get a touch on the ball but could not prevent it from finding the net for the 1-0.

The goal completely changed the match.

Montevideo City Torque returned from halftime determined to find a second and began pinning back a Cienciano side that was finding it increasingly difficult to escape its own half.

The reward arrived in the 57th minute. Esteban Obregón delivered an excellent cross, and Salomón Rodríguez rose inside the box to head home the 2-0.

It was a brace for the striker, his seventh goal in the Copa Sudamericana, and suddenly the tie was completely level.

Nahuel da Silva Delivers in the Final Minute

With the aggregate score tied, a completely different match began.

Cienciano tried to respond through Bandiera, who came close to scoring in the 77th minute, but Torque never stopped searching for the goal that would prevent the tie from going to penalties.

And it arrived in the 90+1st minute.

After a flick-on following a clearance, Nahuel da Silva attacked the space, battled between two defenders and, while sliding, managed to send the ball into the back of the net.

It was 3-0. It was the comeback. And it was also Da Silva's first-ever goal in the Copa Sudamericana.

The celebration sparked wild scenes and also a heated confrontation with the Cienciano players, who could hardly believe how a tie they had started with a two-goal advantage had slipped away.

Montevideo City Torque completed the heroic comeback at home. They overturned a 2-0 deficit, won 3-0 and booked their place among the final four of the Copa Sudamericana on a night they will not soon forget.