Flamengo beat Racing 1-0 as Carrascal nets late in Libertadores semis

Flamengo beat Racing Club 1-0 in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores semifinals at the Maracanã on Wednesday, with Colombian midfielder Jorge Carrascal scoring the decisive goal in the 88th minute. The victory gives the three-time winners a slim advantage ahead of the return leg in Avellaneda next week.

The match was tightly contested for much of the evening, with opportunities at both ends but few clear openings until late. Carrascal's late strike broke the deadlock and handed Flamengo a narrow but valuable lead in the two-legged tie. The winner keeps Flamengo on course for a potential return to the Libertadores final, scheduled for November 29 in Lima, Peru.

Both clubs reached the semifinals after distinct routes. Flamengo advanced by beating Estudiantes on penalties in the quarterfinals and entered Wednesday's game buoyed by a 3-2 domestic win over Palmeiras that tightened the Brazilian Serie A title race. Racing reached the last four after eliminating Vélez Sarsfield and arrived in Rio having won its most recent domestic fixture 1-0. Racing are contesting their first Libertadores semifinal since 1997 and are seeking the club's first title in the competition since 1967.