Atlético Nacional beat Guaraní de Asunción 0-2, in the first leg of Phase II in the Copa Libertadores 2021. The verdolagues were strong on Paraguayan soil and with goals from Bryan Rovira and Alexis Villalba in their own goal, they went in Medellín with a good advantage to liquidate the series and advance to Phase III in the continental contest.
Both teams came out with a lot of revenue and until the 7th minute, Atlético Nacional had its first approach through Jarlan Barrera who entered the area for the left sector. After 9 minutes, Guaraní came close to leveling the score with a dangerous shot from the center of the area that went just over the bar.
On the 20th minute, Danovis Banguero of medium distance demanded to the archer Gaspar Servi, the verdolagas with dominion of ball, put under the aboriginal set, that did not find to leave the pressure realized by the Colombian set.
After 23 minutes, an incisive pass through the middle gave Yerson Candelo a chance to increase the lead for Guaraní, and he did not disappoint. Jarlan Barrera ran onto a great ball from Alexis Villalba, which beat the offside trap, the keeper came rushing out and the lob was attempted, but the lob didnt succeed. Antioch.
After the goal, the Paraguayan team quickly recovered the ball and tried to attack from the sides, as well as generating mid-range shots, but Aldair Quintana intervened in a good way. Nacional responded in the 36th minute with a collective play that resulted in a spectacular shot by Jonatan Álvez. The Verdolagues finished the first half with superiority in the game and this was reflected in the scoreboard.
In the complementary stage, Guaraní came out in search of a tie, in the 4th minute, a free kick taken by Miguel Benítez that rejected Quintana, leaving the ball to Nicolás Maná, who finished the ball deflected from the goal. ‘arc verdolaga. The Colombian team had two chances to score, in one, Jarlan fell into the offside trap, but in which Álvez intervened and had finished deep in the net, the Venezuelan line judge Tulio Moreno raised the flag, although Miguel Benítez was enabling it.
The game fell slightly in intensity and focused on the center of the field, Guaraní made a change, entering Josuè Colmán instead of Jorge Morel, the steering wheel had connectivity with the attack and disturbed the visiting arc. In the 26th minute, Vladimir Hernández almost scored the second half, but the Argentine goalkeeper Servi was very good. A couple of minutes later, Colmán had the equalizer, but sent the ball over the Colombian gantry.
Until minute 31 of the second part, National realized his first change in the party, entered Déinner Quiñones instead of Vladimir Hernandez. Guaraní made four variations in 39 minutes of the second half. After 41 minutes, a couple of quick and successful challenges followed by a shot from just outside the penalty area by Aldair Quintana might have resulted in another goal for Milton Maciel.
The game went up in temperature, the Paraguayan players looked for Jarlan Barrera, who attacked the Samaritan player. The former Junior had a yellow card. With this discussion, the greens lowered the momentum to the local that had turned to attack in the last minutes of the game. In the fifth minute of addition, Déinner Quiñones had the second, after a collective play in rapid transition.
In the last play of the match, Bryan Rovira from a free kick ruled the final 0-2 in favor of the Colombian team. The Caesarean dislodged the archer Servi and cunningly surprised the Paraguayan saga.
In the end, Atlético Nacional achieved a key victory in their aspirations to advance to the next phase of the Copa Libertadores, against a Guarani who did not show the aggressiveness he had had in the previous phase against Royal Pari de Bolivia.
The return match will be played next Thursday, March 18, at 7:30 pm at the Atanasio Girardot Stadium in Medellín.
Juan Camilo Álvarez Serrano
Futbolred correspondent
Medellin
On twitter: @ juanchoserran8