Center forward Carlos Vinícius performed a very rare move in South American football during the confrontation between Grêmio and Palestino, held at Santiago, at Chile. Pela group stage of the Copa Sul-Americana, the top scorer of the Rio Grande do Sul team wasted three penalty kicks in a row in the same move. The game ended in a 0-0 draw, with goalkeeper Sebastián Pérez’s performance being the highlight of the night.
The match, played this Wednesday, was marked by the direct intervention of video refereeing at crucial moments. Grêmio sought control of the actions from the opening whistle, but came up against the inspired performance of the Chilean archer and individual technical errors. The result keeps the dispute open in the group, although the Brazilian team missed the chance to add three points away from home due to missed opportunities at the final mark.
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Arbitragem orders repeat charges for advance from Pérez
The unbelievable sequence of penalties began just eight minutes into the opening half, after Tetê was brought down by Zuñiga inside the Chilean area. Ecuadorian referee Guillermo Guerrero did not hesitate to award the foul. Carlos Vinícius, Grêmio’s official scout, took responsibility.
On the first attempt, the attacker shot hard into the low right corner. Goalkeeper Sebastián Pérez managed to divert the trajectory of the ball, which even kissed the post before leaving the end line. Enquanto Palestino players celebrated, the VAR started reviewing the play. The technology confirmed that Pérez had moved forward, removing both feet from the goal line before impact. Guerrero ordered immediate replay.
On the second beat, Carlos Vinícius chose to change sides and aimed for the left corner. Novamente, Pérez demonstrated accurate reflexes and made the save, counting on the help of the post to prevent the Grêmio goal. The script was repeated: the video referee caught another infraction by the goalkeeper, who again advanced irregularly. The decision generated intense complaints from Chilean athletes on the Santiago pitch.
Terceira attempt ends in slip and foot save
Mesmo under strong psychological pressure and boos from the local fans, Grêmio’s number 9 insisted on taking the third consecutive penalty. The coach and teammates even considered changing the batsman, but the top scorer reaffirmed his confidence in trying to open the scoring.
Desta instead, the error was purely technical and biomechanical. At the moment of support for the kick, Carlos Vinícius slipped on Estádio El Teniente’s lawn. The ball came out weak and without a defined direction, towards the center of the goal. Sebastián Pérez, who this time remained positioned correctly, used his right leg to counter the kick and end the Grêmio martyrdom at the penalty spot.
- Primeira charge: Pérez saves in the right corner and hits the post.
- Segunda charge: save by Pérez in the left corner and ball hits the post.
- Terceira charge: attacker slips and defends with the leg in the center.
- Intervalo between beats: about six minutes of total standstill.
- Match Árbitro: Guillermo Guerrero (Equador).
- Clash Local: Santiago, Chile.
VAR disallows Grêmio’s goal and seals a draw in the second half
Após the trauma of missed penalties, Grêmio tried to reorganize their lines to seek victory in the second half. Renato Portaluppi’s team even found the net with Carlos Vinícius himself, who took advantage of a cross to finish with precision. The celebration, however, was interrupted by an irregularity signal coming from the video booth.
The technical analysis of the play showed that striker Riquelme, responsible for the assist, touched the ball with his arm at the beginning of the play. Seguindo the hand touch rule in immediate attacking moves, the goal was invalidated. Palestino, withdrawn, did little to threaten the goal defended by Agustín Rossi, focusing on maintaining the draw heroically achieved by the performance of their goalkeeper.
The result leaves a bitter taste for the Tricolor delegation, which dominated the ball possession and shooting statistics. Palestino’s defensive performance was solid, but the focus of the international press was on Pérez’s resilience and Carlos Vinícius’s unhappy night. Grêmio now turns its attention to Campeonato Brasileiro, ahead of the next continental engagement.
Ficha detailed technique of goalkeeper performance
Enquanto Pérez became the unlikely hero in Santiago, on the other side of the field, Agustín Rossi had a night of little effective work. The Grêmio goalkeeper was required in just two long-distance interventions, maintaining the defensive security that is characteristic of the squad in this 2026 season. The discrepancy in protagonism between the archers defined the rhythm of the match.
Grêmio’s technical preparation for penalty kicks will be reevaluated by the technical committee. Carlos Vinícius, who boasted a success rate of over 90% until this match, admitted in a quick conversation after the game that the anxiety after the first repetition influenced the final performance. The club must carry out specific ground and support training to avoid further slipping on wet or unstable pitches outside the Brasil.