The first Super Cup Classic of the year ended in the hands of Peñarol

By Brittany Solano

The first celebration of the year was dyed yellow and black

He Centennial Stadium This Sunday he witnessed a match that had all the typical ingredients of our football: strong legs, controversies in the stands and an agonizing outcome. He Super Cup Classic It ended up in the hands of Peñarol, who knew how to remain calm in a penalty shootout to win the first trophy of the 2026 season. After a 0-0 that lasted for 90 minutes of regulation and 30 of extra time, the team led by Diego Aguirre won 4-2 from the twelve steps, leaving their traditional rival empty-handed in their official debut.

Parity was the dominant note for much of the afternoon. In the first half, both the Carboneros and those led by Jadson Viera dedicated themselves more to nullifying the rival's virtues than to proposing a fluid game. This final that paralyzed the country showed a defensively organized Peñarol with Britos and Gularte, against a Nacional that tried to hurt with the hierarchy of Coates and the impetus of “Diente” López, although without the necessary depth to break the zero before the break.

A second half marked by red cards

The temperature of the match rose considerably as soon as the match started. At 7 minutes into the second half, referee Esteban Ostojich did not He hesitated to show Leandro Umpiérrez the red card after a tough tackle on Sebastián Coates. However, the numerical advantage for the tricolor lasted barely a breath. Two minutes later, Gonzalo Carneiro saw the red card for an infraction that evened the charges, leaving both teams with ten men in this eventful clash for the Super Cup.

From there, the match became a tactical battle where the fear of losing outweighed the ambition to win. The physical wear and tear began to take its toll on a Centennial that was burning under the sun of February. Peñarol, with the entry of fresh legs, tried to take advantage of the wings, but Nacional's defense, led by Millán and Patiño, was solid. He Super Cup Classic They entered a risk zone where any mistake could cost them the title, but the defenses ended up prevailing over the attacks.

The folklore that almost tarnishes the sports festival

Toward He At the end of the 90 minutes, the weather in the stands forced the game to be stopped. The use of flares and the display of flags with content political situation generated a pause that questioned the continuity of the show. A flare fell onto the playing field and referee Ostojich applied the security protocol, warning the captains that, if the incident were repeated, the match that defines everything would be suspended. Fortunately, sanity returned to the stands and football was able to continue its course into overtime.

During the extension, the tone did not change much. Both teams suffered from fatigue and the chances of scoring were scarce. The figure of the goalkeepers began to grow, thinking about what everyone knew was inevitable: the penalty shootout. It was a litmus test for the streaming and television systems, which under the new AUF regulations, had to balance to show the fervor of the Super Cup: the expected classic without focusing on the incidents that almost ruined the day.

Penalties and the consecration of the charcoal burner

In the final round, Peñarol was relentless. The Aurinegro's kickers showed 100% effectiveness, converting all four shots they took. On Nacional's side, the aim failed on two occasions, which ended up sentencing history in favor of the team. Aguirre team. This title in Super Cup Classic It means a huge boost for the coaching staff and the squad, which starts the year with the peace of mind of having won the first direct duel against the traditional rival.

The repercussions of this victory will be felt throughout the week in Los Aromos, while in Los Céspedes we will have to make a deep self-criticism about the lack of offensive efficiency. He Super Cup Classic He made it clear that parity in Uruguayan football continues to be extreme and that the details, or the coldness from the penalty spot, are what end up defining who lifts the cup. Peñarol celebrates, retains the glory of the summer and already sets its sights on the Uruguayan championship that looms on the horizon.

Will this victory on penalties be the harbinger of a year of Aurinegro dominance or will Nacional manage to get revenge when the points for the Apertura begin to be played?