Ecuadorian side Deportivo Cuenca delivered the first major upset of the 2026 Copa Sudamericana, stunning Brazilian giants Santos with a 1-0 victory on home soil in what is already being described as one of the most surprising results of the group stage. The win was historic for the Ecuadorian club — and made even more remarkable by the fact that seven Argentines started the match for the team nicknamed El Expreso Austral.
The squad, managed by Argentine coach Jorge Célico, fielded Facundo Ferrero, Santiago Postel, Patricio Boolsen, Mateo Maccari, David González, Lucas Mancinelli, and Nicolás Leguizamón from the kick-off. Germán Rivero came off the bench, while Matías Klimowicz was also available among the substitutes — bringing the total number of Argentine players in the squad to nine.
The only goal of the game came in the 60th minute, and it arrived in unusual fashion. Mancinelli whipped in a tight cross from the left, and Santos goalkeeper Brazao — caught badly off guard — deflected the ball into his own net. It was an embarrassing moment for the Brazilian shot-stopper, though the conditions at altitude almost certainly played a role in his misjudgement.
Deportivo Cuenca’s stadium sits at a punishing 2,550 metres above sea level, and that factor visibly wore Santos down as the match progressed. The visitors looked sluggish throughout, their movement laboured and their reactions slower than usual — a common complaint from sea-level teams travelling to high-altitude venues in South America.
Santos were also without their biggest name. Neymar, who recently underwent another operation on his left knee, was unavailable for selection. Lautaro Díaz started in attack, with Benjamín Rollheiser and Álvaro Barreal introduced from the bench in an attempt to turn the tide. Despite the difficult circumstances, Santos did create some chances — Bontempo rattled the crossbar at one point — and pushed hard in the closing stages without finding an equaliser.
How Deportivo Cuenca Built Their Argentine-Heavy Copa Sudamericana Squad
This result was no accident. Deportivo Cuenca entered the 2026 Copa Sudamericana with a clear strategy: recruit Argentine players — specifically those coming out of the lower divisions of Argentine football or those who were without clubs — and build a competitive unit around them.
The club’s recruitment drive at the start of the year was targeted and deliberate. They identified players from the Argentine Ascenso and free agents who could add quality and experience without the price tag that comes with top-flight signings. The plan has so far paid off handsomely, at least through matchday one.
With the win, Deportivo Cuenca sit top of Group D on three points. They share the group with San Lorenzo and Recoleta FC, who played out a 1-1 draw in Paraguay on the same matchday. Santos, meanwhile, sit at the bottom of the table with nothing to show for their trip to the Andes.
For Santos, this is a damaging start. The club — one of Brazil’s most storied — will need to regroup quickly if they hope to progress from a group that has already proven it won’t offer easy points. The altitude factor won’t go away either, as a return leg in Cuenca remains a possibility depending on how the group develops.
For South American football fans watching closely, the result is a reminder of why the Copa Sudamericana continues to produce drama that the bigger, glitzier Copa Libertadores sometimes can’t match. Smaller clubs, well-organised and playing in favourable conditions, can and do beat the heavyweights — and Deportivo Cuenca did exactly that on a memorable night in Ecuador.