- With the score at 0-0, 34 minutes into the first half, the Atlético Mineiro goalkeeper kept out a point-blank header from Salomón Rodríguez.
- A starter since Everson's injury, the 24-year-old goalkeeper had already starred in the Quarterfinals against Santos, saving three penalties.
Atlético Mineiro's 3-0 win over Montevideo City Torque had a turning point before the first goal. With the scoreboard still blank 34 minutes into the first half, a cross from the left found Salomón Rodríguez at the edge of the six-yard box. The Uruguayan striker, his team's top scorer in this edition, headed it from point-blank range, and Gabriel Delfim flew to his right to push the ball wide.
Until then, the home side had been running the game and had celebrated twice, although both goals were ruled out for offside. Had that header found the net, the 'Galo' would have had to chase the result from behind. Instead, three minutes later, Reinier opened the scoring; Bernard doubled the lead before half-time and Thiago Borbas completed the 3-0 in the second half. "Delfim made a great save in the first half, but we controlled the game very well", Eduardo Domínguez summed up after the final whistle.
The save also carried weight in the numbers. According to Opta, it was the only shot on target Atlético Mineiro conceded all night, the club's lowest figure in a CONMEBOL knockout match since the first leg of the 2024 CONMEBOL Libertadores Semifinal against River Plate. And the clean sheet was historic: of the club's six home wins against Uruguayan sides in CONMEBOL competitions, this is the first without conceding a goal. With that lead, the 'Galo' will visit the Estadio Centenario on Wednesday, October 21.
Delfim got his chance in goal because of an emergency. In late August, Everson fractured his foot, and the 24-year-old goalkeeper, a product of the club's academy, where he has been since 2018, was handed his first run of games as a starter. Until then, since his debut in November 2024, he had played very little in the shadow of his experienced teammate.
His first international knockout tie put him to the test straight away. In the Quarterfinals, Atlético Mineiro lost 2-0 to Santos at the Vila Belmiro and turned it around with a 4-2 win at the Arena MRV. In the shootout, Delfim saved from Gabigol, João Schmidt and Arthur Melo as the team won it 3-1 to seal qualification. According to Opta, he became the second Atlético Mineiro goalkeeper to save three penalties in a single CONMEBOL Sudamericana shootout, after Victor against Unión La Calera in 2019.
Against City Torque, there was no need for a shootout. This time, his contribution was different: a single save, at just the right moment. As soon as he stepped into the starting role, he had explained how he planned to approach the challenge: "When the opportunity comes, you have to be ready. Whether I play or not, I work the same way every day, the best way I can".
