The 1st Round of the Copa Sudamericana is over.
Follow along with us to see what happened in the tournament that is growing in competitiveness across the Americas. Some surprises have already taken to the field.
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Index
Group A – 1st Round of the Copa Sudamericana
Always Ready (BOL) 2 x 0 Independiente Medellin (COL)
Bolivia’s relentless altitude was decisive for Always Ready’s victory over Independiente Medellin.
The Bolivians are the leaders of Group A.
César Vallejo (PER) 0 x 1 Defensa Y Justicia (ARG)
Defensa y Justicia took an important step towards the top position in Group A. They won the crucial opening match away from home, which was significant as they, with their technical superiority, have everything to defeat the other opponents playing in Argentina.
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Image: Juan Carlos Briceño/@photo.gec
Group B – 1st Round of the Copa Sudamericana
Alianza FC (COL) 0 x 1 Union La Calera (CHI)
Union La Calera achieved an incredibly important result away from home. They will battle with Cruzeiro and Universidad Católica for the top spot in the group.
The Chileans take the lead and are group leaders due to the draw between the Brazilians and Ecuadorians.
Universidad Católica (EQU) 0 x 0 Cruzeiro (BRA)
Cruzeiro disappointed in their debut, as did most Brazilian clubs, on which many, including us at Calcio Deal, had placed high expectations.
If there were to be a winner in the clash, it would have been Universidad Católica, who hit the woodwork twice.
Despite this, the result wasn’t entirely bad considering the match was played in Quito, at an altitude of approximately 2,800 meters.
The next match for Cabuloso is against Allianza FC in Belo Horizonte.
Image: Gustavo Aleixo/Cruzeiro
Group C – 1st Round of the Copa Sudamericana
Belgrano (ARG) 0 x 0 Internacional (BRA)
In the clash between the two best teams in the group, Inter and Belgrano ended in a 0-0 draw.
The match was notable for Borré’s debut, a recently acquired sensation striker for Colorado.
However, for negative reasons. The Colombian missed a one-on-one chance with the goalkeeper and another where the goalkeeper wasn’t even under the bar.
Internacional faces Royal Tomayapo at the Beira-Rio in the next round. The Gaúcho team should seek a significant scoreline, as qualification could be decided on goal difference, considering Delfin’s away victory.
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Image: Ricardo Duarte/Inter
Royal Tomayapo (BOL) 0 x 2 Delfin (EQU)
Delfin secured a comfortable victory over Royal Tomayapo.
Group D – 1st Round of the Copa Sudamericana
Nacional Potosí (BOL) 0 x 0 Boca Juniors (ARG)
Boca Juniors was another team that faced the difficulty of altitude, resulting in only a 0-0 draw against Nacional Potosí.
Despite being technically superior, the Argentines couldn’t impose their rhythm due to the altitude of over 4,000 meters.
The curious chronicle of the match was how Boca Juniors arrived in Potosí. The team landed in Sucre and drove 150km in various 4×4 cars along winding roads to reach the match venue.
The Xeneize will face Sportivo Trinidense at the feared La Bombonera in the next round.
Sportivo Trinidense (PAR) 0 x 2 Fortaleza (BRA)
The Paraguayans couldn’t withstand Fortaleza’s momentum, who won comfortably with goals from Thiago Galhardo, early in the match, and Yago Pikachu, in injury time.
Escobar, left-back for Leão do Pici, was sent off at the end of the match.
Fortaleza will face Nacional Potosí at home in the second round and has good chances of reaching 6 points. The battle between Argentines and Brazilians for the top spot will be intense.
Image: Fortaleza Reproduction
Group E – 1st Round of the Copa Sudamericana
Sportivo Ameliano (PAR) 1 x 4 Athletico Paranaense (BRA)
The Furacão strolled on the field and handed a beautiful thrashing to Sportivo Ameliano.
Highlighted by Matriani, a signing of the current season, who scored two goals in the victory. Zapelli and Fernandinho sealed the deal.
In total, Gonzalo Matriani has an incredible 11 goals this season. He even played two games in the Campeonato Mineiro for América-MG. In one of the matches, he scored five goals. Impressive.
Athletico Paranaense should confirm their favoritism in the upcoming rounds and establish themselves as leaders. The next challenge will be against Rayo Zuliano at the Arena da Baixada.
Rayo Zuliano (VEN) 0 x 2 Danubio (URU)
Danubio secured an important away victory. They will likely take the second position and enter playoffs against the third-placed team from the Copa Libertadores group.
Image: Conmebol
Group F – 1st Round of the Copa Sudamericana
Racing Montevideo (URU) 1 x 1 Corinthians (BRA)
Corinthians may have been one of the big disappointments of the round. They were the only Brazilian team not to win, against an opponent that doesn’t play in altitude or is Argentine.
Timão didn’t have a bad overall performance, even taking the lead with Yuri Alberto’s goal. However, they retreated a lot after scoring and invited Racing into their field.
The Uruguayans equalized and could have turned the match around, as one of the goals was disallowed for offside.
Due to the great game between Argentinos Juniors and Nacional, which we’ll see next, Corinthians may face some difficulty in qualifying, even in the second position for playoff contention. It’s time to sound the alarm.
The next match is against Nacional, and only victory matters.
Nacional (PAR) 2 x 3 Argentinos Juniors (ARG)
Argentinos Juniors, with the victory, showed themselves as the main candidate to take the first position.
They opened 3-0 still in the first half, with two goals from Maxi Romero. However, they must pay extra attention, as they conceded twice in the last fifteen minutes of the match. Such errors can cost qualifications.
Image: AAAJ
Group G – 1st Round of the Copa Sudamericana
Cuiabá (BRA) 1 x 1 Lanús (ARG)
A clash between the two most competitive teams in the group in the very first round.
Cuiabá had a good game but ended with the bitter taste of a draw, as Lanús scored at the 80th minute.
Now, the team from Brazil’s Midwest will seek a result in Argentina to fight for the top position.
Before that, they will face Metropolitanos away.
Lanús will host Deportivo Garcilaso.
Deportivo Garcilaso (PER) 3 x 2 Metropolitanos (VEN)
Against expectations, Deportivo Garcilaso leads the group after a lively game against Metropolitanos.
The winning goal for the Peruvians was scored in injury time by Anthony Gordillo, who came off the bench.
Despite the pressure, Garcilaso played a great game and might be a surprise. They were dominant throughout, with 26 shots and 71% possession.
Image: Futebol Interior Reproduction
Group H – 1st Round of the Copa Sudamericana
Red Bull Bragantino (BRA) 1 x 0 Coquimbo Unido (CHI)
Red Bull Bragantino did their job and defeated Coquimbo.
As usual, Pedro Caixinha’s team created good opportunities but also suffered from serious defensive errors, largely due to carelessness and individual mistakes.
Goalkeeper Cleiton, at the start of the game, attempted a risky ball distribution and almost got into trouble.
At 38′, Luan Candido made a mistake, allowing Coquimbo to hit the post with a powerful shot. On the rebound, Cleiton redeemed himself with a beautiful save.
Eduardo Sasha, once again, as in the semifinal against Santos in the Paulistão, scored a fantastic goal, only to be ruled out.
The winning goal came from Vitinho’s feet, who is having a great season.
Goal difference would have been important, as Racing currently leads the group on this criterion.
The next match for Massa Bruta will be against the Argentines. The battle for the top spot will be intense.
Sportivo Luqueño (PAR) 0 x 2 Racing (ARG)
Racing achieved an extremely important victory, putting them in the sole leadership of the competition.
Curiously, the goals were scored by two Martínezes, Adrián and Roger.
Who will advance?
Image: RBB
Written by Vitor F L Miller.
