The Bolivian Always Ready defeated the Uruguayan Nacional 1-0, in the first leg of the third phase of the Copa Libertadores 2024 that was played this Thursday at the El Alto stadium at 4,090 meters of altitude.
The only goal was early, at 13 minutes, by Darlison Rodrigues, but the team led by Álvaro Recoba resisted the attacks in a complicated sporting scenario.
The match that will define the ticket to the group stage will be played next Thursday in Montevideo.
Always Ready started by stepping on the accelerator, pressing from the middle sector, with the intention of drowning out the rival and taking advantage of the height of the stage.
Nacional, three-time champion of the Libertadores, was more cautious, stuck in his sector, without the intention of putting unnecessary strain on his physique.
The ‘tricolors’ protected the porch of their captain Luis Mejía, to the extent of their possibilities and when the ball crossed the local team’s sector and there was no chance of reaching the ball, they stepped on the brake pedal.
The locals opened the scoring in the 13th minute, through Rodrigues, who fired a precise right-footed shot from the half-moon.
The early first goal suggested that Always Ready would devour the team led by former international Recoba, but the momentum was unsuccessful.
Until the whistle blew to end the first half, the Bolivians dominated the ball, with mid-range shots, but Nacional found ways to clear the ball.
The Uruguayan team deployed a closed and well-organized defense.
– National resisted –
In the second stage, Nacional advanced its lines a little more with the idea that it could equalize the score or that going on the attack was a good defensive strategy.
Recoba’s plan was aimed at maintaining the narrow 1-0 difference which, being round-trip matches, is a good result for the revenge.
Defender Mateo Antoni and midfielder Francisco Ginella stood out in the ‘tricolor’ squad.
At 71 the local team was one step away from increasing the score, but the Colombian referee Jhon Ospina took an advanced position.
In parts of the game, some Nacional players were observed who felt the effects of the height of the city, but they fought to ensure that their fall was not painful.
Always Ready tried to repeat the 6-1 win it gave to the Peruvian Sporting Cristal in the last phase, on February 25, but the Bag stood solidly on the field.
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