Argentine club Estudiantes de La Plata was eliminated from the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals on Thursday after suffering an agonizing 1-0 loss at home to Athletico Paranaense with a goal from Vitor Roque to the minute 96.

Paranaense, which a week ago equalized without goals in the first leg played at home in Brazil, took advantage of one of the few opportunities that presented itself in the rematch to qualify for the semifinals that will begin on Tuesday the 30th.

In the definition of the series at the UNO stadium in the city of La Plata, Estudiantes created the best chances to open the scoring but was not fine in the final touch to beat goalkeeper Bento.

The referee Andrés Matonte and the VAR annulled a goal for the local team scored by Luciano Lollo after 66 minutes due to an offside position by a teammate.

“We lacked the (opportunities) we had. We played a great game, the one we had to do, but the details didn’t help us,” said coach Ricardo Zielinski. 

“It hurts to lose, but there are ways, and today the referee was responsible,” he added at the press conference after the elimination.

The goal for the team led by the experienced Luiz Felipe Scolari came after 96 minutes through a header from Roque, after a good play by Vitinho on the left side.

In the semifinals, Paranaense will face defending champion Palmeiras in a duel of Brazilians, while the Argentine team Vélez Sarsfield will play against the popular Flamengo.