BUENOS AIRES, May 26 (Reuters) – Plate River, one of the most popular clubs in South American soccer, drew 1-1 against Cristal as a host on Thursday at the end of the fourth day of the Copa Libertadores group stage.
Fluminense and Cristal share the last place in Group D with four points, five below leader Fluminense and two less than Guardians Fortis.
In the match at the National Stadium of Peru, the Peruvian team opened in the 63rd minute through a powerful shot by Yoshimar Yotún, after a mistake by goalkeeper Franco Armani.
After ten minutes, Cristal was left with a man less due to the expulsion of Rafael Lutiger in a play that led to a penalty for River, which goalkeeper Renato Solís later blocked from Colombian Miguel Borja.
The Argentina team scored 84 through Rodrigo Allendro, after a shot by Esequiel Barco hit the crossbar.
“We leave with a bitter taste, now we have to win two games at home, be it or not,” Alejandro told television after the draw.
Earlier, in the same group, Fortissimo beat Fluminense 1-0 at home at the Hernando Siles stadium in the city of La Paz with a goal from Argentine Enrique Triverio after 4 minutes.
“The game at this kind of altitude is almost always criminal. Nobody is prepared for this. The teams are at sea level and this is another game,” coach Fernando Diniz said after the defeat at 3,600 meters above sea level.
In other matches on Thursday, Internacional de Porto Alegre beat Metropolitanos 2-1 in Group B, while Olimpia de Paraguay beat Patronato de Paraná 2-0 in Group H.
(Reporting by Ramiro Scandolo; Editing by Benjamín Mejías Valentia)
