Buenos Aires ( Associated Press) – Palmeiras has shown its claws and sent a clear message that it is looking for a three-time championship title.
Continental champions in 1999, 2020 and 2021 “Vardao” beat Cerro Porteo 3-0 for the first leg of the Copa Libertadores 16 on Wednesday, the result practically being a punishment for the series.
One of the Portuguese Abel Ferreira team’s most unbalanced players, Ronnie led the victory with a header in the 61st minute after a perfect cross by Gustavo Scarpa from the left at the Pablo Rojas General Stadium in the capital of Paraguay.
The attacker signed a first touch play between Scarpa and Dudu in the 69th minute that Colombian referee Wilmer Roldan was slow to validate due to suspicions of an advanced position, which VAR eventually cleared.
Palmeiras celebrated on 87 perhaps the goal that settled the series. In a corner kick, captain Gustavo Gómez rose to down the ball to Murillo, who missed the first attempt against goalkeeper Jean, but did not spare the rebound.
“It was a matter of being calm, calm and intelligent to get down to our game,” Ferreira said. “Cerro started to lose energy, we kept up the intensity and the team was fresh. Palmeiras was better in the second half.
Argentine Duels
In Vélez Sarsfield’s 1–0 home win against River Plate, Uruguayan Alexander Medina won the first game in a reserve forecast series, against his former coach at Nacional, Marcelo Gallardo.
The break occurred after 15 minutes, when millionaire defender David Martinez imposed a child penalty against Lucas Jansson. The midfielder himself executed it with a straight shot from the right.
Four-time continental champions, the Millionaires team, were weak in defense and weak on the offensive in one of their scorer Julian Alvarez’s last games before joining Manchester City. The river awaits a response from Uruguay gunner Luis Suarez on vacation in Spain. Admittedly, Pistolero will not be able to play revenge at Monumental Stadium.
In 1994, the champions Fortin had three clear chances to extend the lead in the second half, but goalkeeper Franco Armani kept Rivers’ hopes up.
“Worse we can’t play,” Gallardo said. “A positive result. It’s a minimal profit. We have to improve a lot.”
In the second round of 16 match between the Argentine teams at the Mario Alberto Kemps Stadium in Córdoba, Toleres and Colón drew 1–1.
Although the locals made more offers, Cologne took the lead in the 60th minute when Luis Miguel Rodriguez hit the ball over Ramón Abila’s head with a free kick. By the same route, Toleres tied for 85 via Alan Franco of Ecuador.
Flamengo wins in Colombia
Meanwhile, eventual runners-up Flamengo defeated Deportes Tolima 1–0 at the Manuel Murillo Toro Stadium.
El Mengao, winner of the competition in 1981 and 2019, took the lead in his first offensive excursion in 17 minutes with a right hand from 20 meters, which went into the angle of a goal defended by Ecuador’s Alexander Dominguez.
Tolima, who had fallen to Atlético Nacional in the final of the Colombian championship last weekend, was close to equalizing in the 21st minute after a poor start by a rival defense. Brian Rovira scored and Leonardo Pereira defended on the line. The ball was dropped to Juan Cassado, who missed on his heel.
Rematches will be played next week.
