LIBERATORS ABBREVIATION (AP)
Newcomer Deportivo Pereira had the luxury of beating the second team with most Copa Libertadores titles.
The last Colombian striker secured a 1-0 victory against Boca Juniors on Wednesday and tied it at the top of Group F of the regional tournament.
The goal of the attacker Arley Rodríguez in the 78th minute exploded the Hernán Ramírez Villegas stadium, where Pereira became the fourth “coffee” team to beat Boca in the Libertadores, after Deportivo Cali (2001 and 2022), Independiente Medellín (2003) and Cúcuta (2007).
Pereira quickly suffered a blow to give him three points a minute before the goal. He wasted the biggest penalty, in which Boca goalkeeper Sergio “Chiquito Romero” shot Juan Zuluaga.
The joy of the “xeneize” team was short-lived, because in the second action they were distracted and, after a kick-off, Johan Bocanegra sent a cross into the area, which Arley Rodríguez headed into the net.
“This group of warriors deserved it, we are great, like Boca,” said Rodríguez after the game. “After a great effort, we can rest easy, because we got three points, which we dream of going on to the next round.”
In the first half, with few chances, Boca Juniors held possession, but only Colombian Sebastián Villa had to break the attack.
Coach Jorge Almirón, who was undefeated in the group and overall, had four victories in the last five games, at the beginning of the second period, especially after the arrival of Cristian Medina and Marcelo Weigandt.
When Boca seemed to dominate the proceedings, a goal by Pereira led to defender Jorge Figal to free Angel Rodríguez from inside the box. And, almost immediately, the penalty fell, the “matecaña” team did not waste its second chance.
“We played a good game, but unfortunately we left without a point, which I think we deserved,” Romero explained. “Thank God, we have the next two games at home and we hope to qualify at La Bombonera.”
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Pereira has reached seven points and shares the total of the area with Boca Juniors. Both are ahead of Colo-Colo, who has five, and Monagas closes with two.
PALMEIRA FINIS IN PARAGUAY
Palmeiras equaled Bolívar for the lead in Group C with a solid 3-0 win over Cerro Porteño in Asunción.
After a balanced start, things changed after 15 minutes when Paraguayan defender Gabriel Báez was sent off for a violent challenge on Artur, who was punished with a red card after a VAR review.
With a numerical superiority, the Libertadores champion in 2020 and 2021 took control of the game and took the lead with a 25th shot by Artur from outside the area when it was determined.
In the complementary stage, Palmeiras extended their advantage with Artur’s second goal, which ended the collective game without contradiction.
And Rony, who assisted both of the first two goals, declared victory with his first shout in 74 days (12 games).
“Verdao” reached nine points and needs only one point in the remaining two rounds to make it to the round of 16.
With a score from striker Rubén Bentancourt, Liverpool added their first victory in the tournament by beating Independiente del Valle 1-0 in Montevideo.
The Ecuadorian team played with a minor player from the discount of the first part of the exact goalkeeper Moisés Ramírez with an attack on Gonzalo Nápoli in the middle of a strong debate between the members of both teams.
The business between the Patronage and Olimpia, which was to be played in Paraná, was suspended due to the rains and was cut off on Thursday in the Colón de Santa Fe stadium.
