RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Goalkeeper Fernando Muslera saved three penalties to help Estudiantes de La Plata overcome a second-half red card Thursday and eliminate defending champion Flamengo to secure a spot in the Copa Libertadores final.
Following two goalless draws in the series, the 40-year-old Uruguay veteran — who played in five World Cups — denied penalty attempts from Jorginho, Lucas Paquetá, and Bruno Henrique to lead the Argentine side to a 3-2 shootout victory.
Click to Gallery
Fans of Brazil's Flamengo cheer prior to the start of the second leg of a Copa Libertadores semifinal soccer match against Argentina's Estudiantes de La Plata in Rio de Janeiro, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Lucas Paqueta of Brazil's Flamengo falls to the ground while fighting for a ball with Lucas Piovi of Argentina's Estudiantes de La Plata during the second leg of a Copa Libertadores semifinal soccer match in Rio de Janeiro, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Players of Argentina's Estudiantes de La Plata celebrate with goalkeeper Nestor Muslera after winning a penalty shootout against Brazil's Flamengo during the second leg of a Copa Libertadores semifinal soccer match in Rio de Janeiro, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Players of Argentina's Estudiantes de La Plata celebrate after winning a penalty shootout against Brazil's Flamengo during the second leg of a Copa Libertadores semifinal soccer match in Rio de Janeiro, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Goalkeeper Nestor Muslera of Argentina's Estudiantes de La Plata saves a penalty shot by Bruno Henrique of Brazil's Flamengo during a penalty shootout in the second leg of a Copa Libertadores semifinal soccer match in Rio de Janeiro, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Estudiantes, reduced to 10 men in the 50th minute when Baltasar Rodríguez was sent off, will now face Palmeiras in the final at Uruguay’s Centenario Stadium on Nov. 28.
The Argentine club will aim to break a seven-year streak of consecutive tournament victories by Brazilian teams in South America’s premier club competition.
The last non-Brazilian club to lift the trophy was Argentina’s River Plate in 2018.
Estudiantes will be pursuing their fifth Copa Libertadores title — and their first since 2009 — against a Palmeiras side that last won the tournament during their back-to-back title runs in 2020–21.
The Argentine victory marked a major upset: Estudiantes’ squad is valued at just over $61 million compared to Flamengo’s — one of the most expensive rosters in the Americas — at around $236 million.
See AP’s full soccer coverage here
Fans of Brazil's Flamengo cheer prior to the start of the second leg of a Copa Libertadores semifinal soccer match against Argentina's Estudiantes de La Plata in Rio de Janeiro, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Lucas Paqueta of Brazil's Flamengo falls to the ground while fighting for a ball with Lucas Piovi of Argentina's Estudiantes de La Plata during the second leg of a Copa Libertadores semifinal soccer match in Rio de Janeiro, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Players of Argentina's Estudiantes de La Plata celebrate with goalkeeper Nestor Muslera after winning a penalty shootout against Brazil's Flamengo during the second leg of a Copa Libertadores semifinal soccer match in Rio de Janeiro, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Players of Argentina's Estudiantes de La Plata celebrate after winning a penalty shootout against Brazil's Flamengo during the second leg of a Copa Libertadores semifinal soccer match in Rio de Janeiro, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Goalkeeper Nestor Muslera of Argentina's Estudiantes de La Plata saves a penalty shot by Bruno Henrique of Brazil's Flamengo during a penalty shootout in the second leg of a Copa Libertadores semifinal soccer match in Rio de Janeiro, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Kimi Antonelli strolled easily through the paddock at the Circuit of the Americas, his boyish grin, tousled hair and easy demeanor never giving a hint of what is at stake for the 20-year-old Italian.
The Mercedes driver will start the United States Grand Prix on Sunday with his fingertips tantalizingly within reach of the Formula One championship.
It would be a stretch to win the title on Sunday, and things would have to fall perfectly in place. But it could happen. And if it does, Antonelli would become the youngest champion in F1 history and first Italian since Alberto Ascari in 1953.
“It definitely is crazy if you think about it, but that’s why I won’t think about it," Antonelli said. ”The others need to have a poor result, which is unlikely to happen.”
He looks ready to make a charge at the checkered flag. Antonelli was second-fastest behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in Friday’s afternoon practice.
An Antonelli victory, coupled with Mercedes teammate George Russell finishing ninth or lower and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton finishing fifth or lower would clinch it. That's a tangle of mathematical formulas.
Even if they don't add up, Antonelli will leave Austin closer to the championship as his rivals are simply running out of races left on the calendar to catch him.
Whenever Antonelli is crowned, it will cap off a season where Mercedes jumped to the front of the grid from the opening race, boosted by a new generation of cars.
Many thought it would be George Russell in Antonelli's position by late October. He was the team's No. 1 veteran driver. He won the first race.
Antonelli quickly caught him, passed him and ultimately left his teammate behind in a cloud of frustration. Antonelli won the next five races and has eight wins total.
“It’s been really great to see his performances this year. It’s massively impressive, and he deserves to be the champion,” said Hamilton, a seven-time champion with McLaren and Mercedes.
Cadillac driver Valtteri Bottas was Antonelli's teammate at Mercedes in 2025 and watched the ups and downs of his rookie season.
“He’s just taking things to the next level this year. It makes me proud,” Bottas said. “He hasn’t shown any signs of pressure or weakness.”
Off-track factors could also help Antonelli's title chase.
The final two races on the schedule are in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. Formula 1 officials have said they plan to race both, even amid tensions in the Middle East from the Iran war. But officials are planning a possible substitute race at Imola in Italy.
If the season is shortened, that could hand Antonelli the title outright as there wouldn't be enough races left to catch him.
The Red Bull driver would seem a favorite to win Sunday after dominant victories in Malaysia and Singapore. Verstappen has four career victories at COTA. It has been an impressive turn in form for the former four-time champion after a slow and frustrating start raised questions whether he might even leave F1.
Verstappen teammate Isack Hadjar caused a stir when he said Red Bull didn't have the fastest car in Singapore.
“I think if you put Max in the Ferrari, he would have won the race with more margin,” Hadjar said Thursday.
Leclerc backed that up with an impressive Friday. He was fastest in both practice sessions. Verstappen was second-fastest in first one, and third in the second.
Most of the drivers laud COTA as one of the best tracks in the world. And every year, they complain about bumps that can make a 90-minute race a nightmare on their lower back.
“I love this track, I love this place. One of the best layouts ever," Verstappen said. “But for me the bumps are unacceptable.”
The track has long had bump problems due to the soft soil underneath. Track officials have made regular repairs since it opened in 2012. The bumps are most visible on the long straight, but Verstappen said the drivers feel them the most in braking zones.
Defending F1 champion Lando Norris of McLaren agreed it's a problem. He also said it's not unique to COTA.
“I mean, it’s pretty bad," Norris said. “There's a lot of places I need to take headache tablets before I go out, simply because it’s so bumpy and, and you’re hitting your head pretty hard against the headrests and things.”
The American team's debut season has included expected struggles for drivers Sergio Perez and Bottas, who have failed to finish races a combined 16 times. The team has scored no points.
Austin and the upcoming Las Vegas races are at least a chance to embrace the team's American roots with a cowboy-themed livery on its cars this weekend.
“Our focus is on next year’s car. It’s a long game,” Bottas said. “We know it’s going to be a tough end to the year for us, but it’s really all about building the foundation for the future.”
See AP’s full auto racing coverage here
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands steers his car out of a turn during the first practice session for the Formula One United States Grand Prix auto race at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco steers his car out of a turn during the first practice session for the Formula One United States Grand Prix auto race at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli of Italy steers his car into a turn during the first practice session for the Formula One United States Grand Prix auto race at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli of Italy prepares for the second practice session for the Formula One United States Grand Prix auto race at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Vryn)
