Overview

• The defender received a straight red for striking Universidad de Chile captain Charles Aránguiz with an elbow in the Copa Sudamericana quarterfinal first leg.
• Alianza Lima finished with 10 men yet held a 0–0 result, leaving the two-legged tie finely balanced.
• Commentators warned the expulsion could hurt Alianza’s plans for the return leg and suggested Zambrano may miss it under typical suspension rules.
• Mauro Cantoro criticized the decision as inexcusable at this stage, saying a player of Zambrano’s stature cannot leave his team short-handed.
• Juan ‘Chiquito’ Flores likened Zambrano’s card-prone edge to ‘Puma’ Carranza’s and noted the particular strain of losing a central defender.