The Ecuadorian Valley Independent beat this Tuesday by 0-1, with a goal by Marco Angulo, against the Venezuelan Sports Tachirain the first leg of the quarterfinals of the South American Cupwhich was played at the Pueblo Nuevo Sports Center in San Cristóbal (Venezuela).
Just in minute 3, Independiente put the fairy tale of the aurinegros totter and laid the foundations for their victory with a goal scored by striker Marco Angulo from very close to the goal.
However, Táchira offered the highlight of the day with a goal at the end of the match, exactly at 90+2, which was scored by the Panamanian Azmahar Anibal Ariano, but which was annulled in the VAR due to an advanced position.
Thus, the Venezuelans fell at home in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana quarterfinals, where they arrived full of hope after beating Santos in Brazil and winning this unexpected pass.
Independiente showed a clean defense in the first part of the match and kept the game away from Ramírez’s goal, who stopped Táchira’s two clearest chances in the air in the first 45 minutes.
The Ecuadorian eleven led a game on the wings and showed precise passes and technical order that marked the contest and forced Deportivo Táchira to close their ranks and defend themselves.
Until that moment, the clearest opportunity for the locals came with a header by Jean Gutiérrez, which he bet from the center of the area and went straight to the goal, but hit the post.
After this scare, tempers flared and in the 58th minute Independiente were left with 10 players after striker Jaime Ayovi was sent off, who received a red card from Brazilian referee Wilton Pereira for committing a foul on the goalkeeper from Tachira.
Táchira tried, but could not pass Ramírez, who stopped the most dangerous actions of the locals. Meanwhile, Independiente, with only 10 players, concentrated on defending their spaces and maintaining the advantage left by the solitary early goal.
A heavy rain on the Pueblo Nuevo Sports Center complicated the last minutes of the first leg between Táchira and Independiente, which closed with the visible sorrow of Táchira after the annulment of Ariano’s goal and the subsequent search for an agonizing tie that was not.
Both teams will meet again, this time in Quito, next Tuesday, August 9, when they will define who will advance to the semifinals.
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