Several important matches stirred up the 3rd round of the Copa Sudamericana.
Brazilian teams disappointing on the field have been the trend. Follow along with us for the most important matches.
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Index
Group A – 3rd Round of the Copa Sudamericana
Always Ready (BOL) 2 x 0 César Vallejo (PER)
Always Ready has been surprising. Taking advantage of their stadium located at an absurd altitude, the Bolivians are the leaders of Group A, which includes much more traditional teams.
Regardless of the altitude, the campaign the team has been carrying out is commendable, even with technical limitations, considering they haven’t lost yet, also securing a point away from home in the match against Defensa y Justicia in Argentina.
Independiente Medellin (COL) 2 x 1 Defensa Y Justicia (ARG)
After stumbling against Always Ready at home, Defensa y Justicia was defeated by Independiente Medellin. With this, the Argentine team has only 4 points, while Always Ready and Independiente have 7 and 6 points, respectively.
Image: APG
Group B – 3rd Round of the Copa Sudamericana
Alianza FC (COL) 1 x 3 Universidad Católica (EQU)
The Ecuadorian team didn’t take it easy on Alianza. With a 3-1 away victory, they became the sole leaders of the group with 7 points. The chances of qualifying in the first position are high, especially when considering the football displayed by their competitors.
Unión La Calera 0 x 0 Cruzeiro (BRA)
Cruzeiro continues to disappoint. The group stage of the Copa Sudamericana is already in its third round. Nonetheless, still no victory for the Brazilians.
In an extremely poor game, the Cabuloso barely troubled their opponent, managing only two shots on goal throughout the match. La Calera also had a well below par performance, hitting the target only once.
Cruzeiro is in third place and their qualification is only not ruled out due to the lack of quality of their opponents, given that a victory in the next round would place the team in second position.
Image: Universidad Católica
Group C – 3rd Round of the Copa Sudamericana
Royal Tomayapo (BOL) 0 x 2 Belgrano (ARG)
Even with a player less since the 28th minute, Belgrano achieved an important away victory.
With the result, they reached 5 points and are group leaders. They have the same number of points as Internacional, but take the lead due to goal difference.
Delfin (EQU) 1 x 2 Internacional (BRA)
Inter finally secured their first victory in the Copa Sudamericana 2024.
The match was of utmost importance, as besides the triumph, it marked Borré’s first goal wearing the Colorado shirt.
The Colombian center-forward, signed for a hefty fee, had been having poor performances, missing goals and penalties. The ball simply refused to go in.
However, in yesterday’s game, he had the confidence to place the ball on the spot and take the penalty. It hits the crossbar and goes in. In celebration, much excitement from the striker.
Inter’s first goal was scored by Wesley, who has had a very positive start to his work. He has 4 goals in 8 matches.
With the victory, Inter moves to second place, with the same number of points as Belgrano, and has the possibility of taking the lead alone if they defeat the Argentine team at the Beira-Rio in the next round.
Image: Sport Club Internacional
Group D – 3rd Round of the Copa Sudamericana
Fortaleza (BRA) 4 x 2 Boca Juniors (ARG)
Fortaleza has been putting on a show in the Copa Sudamericana 2024.
Vojvoda showed why he is one of the longest-serving coaches in Brazilian soil. He devised the perfect plan to face Boca Juniors.
Fortaleza bet on medium pressure, which increased as Boca’s midfielders received the ball with their backs to start plays.
At that moment, Fortaleza pounced and recovered the ball already in their attacking zone. The first goal of the match came from Lucero’s feet, just in that vein, in just three minutes.
The Xeneize equalized at 20′, with a goal from Merentiel.
Right at the start of the second half, Lucero finds the net again, with a great goal. From a free-kick, he heads from the edge of the box, hitting the corner of the goal.
Pochettino, who had watched Lucero take the free-kick, finds a beautiful through ball for Pikachu, who was running on the wing.
The Leão do Pici idol shoots crosswise, at 55′, and scores another beautiful goal to make it 3-1.
At 62′, the icing on the cake. Machuca makes a speedy play on the wing and tries to cross. The ball rebounds off Boca Juniors’ defense and falls cleanly for Pikachu to chest it in.
The Argentines managed to reduce the scoreline at 85′, but that was it. Fortaleza’s technical and tactical imposition was very evident throughout the match.
Laion is the sole leader with 9 points and is the only team, alongside Athletico Paranaense and Racing (ARG), to maintain a 100% record. If they continue this performance, they will comfortably qualify in first place.
Image: Fortaleza
Group E – 3rd Round of the Copa Sudamericana
Sportivo Trinidense secured their first victory and have three points. However, the fight for promotion should mainly be between Fortaleza and Boca Juniors.
Grupo E – 3a Rodada da Copa Sul-americana
Danubio (URU) 0 x 1 Athletico Paranaense (BRA)
Furacão secured another very important victory.
With the away triumph, against their most competitive rival in the group, Athletico reached 9 points and a 100% record.
This way, Cuca’s team should advance to the next stage, in first place, comfortably.
The winning goal was scored by Madson. From Zapelli’s corner kick, the full-back imposed his specialty, rising high and heading the ball precisely into the corner.
Image: Eitan Abramovich/AFP
Rayo Zuliano (VEN) 0 x 4 Sportivo Ameliano (PAR)
Sportivo Ameliano complicated Danubio’s life with the thrashing they inflicted on Rayo Zuliano.
With the victory, they took second place, level on points with the Uruguayans, but with an advantage in goal difference.
Group F – 3rd Round of the Copa Sudamericana
Argentinos Juniors (ARG) 1 x 0 Corinthians (BRA)
O
Corinthians disappointed once again.
In a very negative phase, the change of Antonio Oliveira is already considered.
The Portuguese coach had a good start, but has been suffering setback after setback.
The Brazilian team conceded a goal just 2 minutes into the game, in yet another error by goalkeeper Cássio.
The situation became unsustainable at 59′, when Raul Gustavo shoved the linesman in a blatant manner while he was trying to separate the Argentinos Juniors defender and player, who were getting into an argument.
At the end of the match, Cássio made strong statements, stating the following:
“I am the captain, the eldest. It’s tough, I make mistakes, I don’t absolve myself of errors, the coach and the president decide. If I’m hindering, it’s tough for me. Everything wrong at Corinthians falls on me, if we don’t score it’s Cássio’s fault. I’m honest, I have the humility to know when I’m wrong. It’s tough, we have to be alert, and this early season has to be about learning.
Criticism is part of it, when it goes over the line… Many players left, I became the eldest and I knew the pressure would be high. I made mistakes in some goals, but it seems like everything is my fault. If I’m to blame, it’s better for me to leave and follow my path.”
The goalkeeper’s words, as well as the way Raul Gustavo was sent off, show the instability within Timão.
With the defeat, Corinthians dropped from first to third position in the group. If they don’t wake up in time, elimination from the 2024 South American Cup will be the least of their problems, as their performance in the Brasileirão continues to be well below par.
Argentinos Juniors lead with 6 points.
Image: SBT
Nacional (PAR) 2 x 2 Racing Montevideo (URU)
The away draw wasn’t a bad outcome for Racing. They stay in second place in the group and keep their qualification chances alive.
Group G – 3rd Round of the Copa Sudamericana
Metropolitanos (VEN) 0 x 2 Lanús (ARG)
Lanús secured a very important away victory. They isolated themselves in the lead with two goals from the experienced striker, Bou.
Deportivo Garcilaso (PER) 1 x 1 Cuiabá (BRA)
The draw wasn’t a terrible result for Cuiabá. They remain in second place and still have a chance of qualifying in first place as the gap to Lanús is only two points.
Imagem: AssCom Dourado
Group H – 3rd Round of the Copa Sudamericana
Red Bull Bragantino (BRA) 2 x 1 Sportivo Luqueño (PAR)
Red Bull Bragantino won and continue to pursue Racing.
The team from the São Paulo countryside opened 2-0 and managed the result.
Coquimbo Unido (CHI) 1 x 2 Racing (ARG)
Racing is parading in this 2024 South American Cup. They secured their third consecutive victory and are the sole leaders of their group.
The curious part of the game is the mistake by Racing’s goalkeeper Arias, who comes out to claim a long ball launched by the Chilean team but ends up missing it, leaving the goal open for Coquimbo, who equalized the match.
However, the mistake didn’t matter, and the Argentines regained the lead shortly after, leaving with the victory.
Image:X/ConmebolSudamericanaBR
Written by Vitor F L Miller.
