Corinthians earned a place in the semi-finals of the Copa Sul-Americana with a convincing 3-0 win against Fortaleza at the Neo Química Arena.
The home side’s triumph featured Memphis Depay’s first assist for his new club, setting up Pedro Henrique for the third goal.
The match started with a lackluster first half as both teams struggled to create meaningful chances. Corinthians controlled possession but failed to capitalize on their dominance.
Furthermore, Fortaleza’s breakaway passing prevented them from posing any significant threat to the home side’s defence.
The game came to life in the second half when Romero broke the deadlock for Corinthians. The Paraguayan striker skilfully outmaneuvered defenders before beating João Ricardo to open the scoring.
Igor Coronado doubled Corinthians’ lead soon after, diving home from João Ricardo’s shot. The midfielder’s goal further strengthened the home team’s control of the match.
Memphis Depay left his mark in the closing stages of the game. The Dutch striker took a pass from Rodrigo Garro and expertly set up Pedro Henrique for an easy finish.
With this victory, Corinthians secured a 5-0 total victory over Fortaleza in the quarterfinals. The team now awaits the winner of the Athletico-PR and Racing clash to determine their semi-final opponent.
Corinthians’ next challenge comes on Sunday when they face São Paulo in the Brazilian championship. Meanwhile, Fortaleza will host Cuiabá on the same day when both teams return to the league.
