Corinthians’ defensive gamble sparks early Copa exit debate | OneFootball

Corinthians’ Copa Sudamericana campaign came crashing to an end after a 1-0 loss to Huracán in Buenos Aires, capping off a turbulent period marked by injury issues and contentious tactical choices. The defeat condemned the Brazilian side to a third-place finish in Group C, sealing their elimination from the tournament.

The match’s sole goal sparked debate among pundits, who questioned whether goalkeeper Hugo Souza could have done more. Renato Maurício Prado argued that the ball was “quite saveable,” and that Hugo allowed it to slip between himself and the post, implying a miscalculation on what should have been a routine stop. However, opinion remains divided, with others viewing the strike as simply a difficult situation for any keeper under match pressure.

Beyond the moment of controversy in goal, much of the post-match discussion centered on manager Dorival Júnior’s approach. Analysts Bira and Renato Maurício Prado criticized the heavy use of defensive midfielders, which they felt stifled the team’s creative potential. The lineup, fielding three holding midfielders and only Carrillo, Romero, and Memphis in attack, was called “insufficient” for a match Corithians needed to win comfortably. In Bira’s view, the system was designed to solve defensive weaknesses, but ended up starving the side of creative opportunities in attack.

The absence of striker Yuri Alberto, sidelined with a lumbar spine fracture, loomed large. “The lack of Yuri Alberto is huge. The Corinthians attack without him is very weak,” Prado observed, highlighting how limited the offensive impetus became in his absence. Talles Magno failed to make an impact off the bench, and even with Garro introduced later, the attacking improvements were only incremental.

Dorival Júnior’s intention to shore up defensive frailties with a conservative setup backfired as attacking spark was sacrificed. Despite shutting down many Huracán chances for long stretches, Corinthians never looked likely to deliver the four-goal margin required to leapfrog their opponents atop the group. Instead, their cautious build-up invited pressure, and when the decisive goal came, they had little response.

The early exit from the competition continues a challenging run for Corinthians, who have had to navigate frequent injuries, notably to key forwards, and significant pressure off the pitch. Calls for a rethink are growing louder, especially as fans and pundits alike query whether the club’s safety-first approach is delivering results or merely compounding attacking problems.

As the club regroups, both tactical identity and squad depth are likely to come under further scrutiny, particularly with domestic priorities gaining urgency after continental disappointment.

Source: UOL