March 9, 2023, 10:55 PM
March 9, 2023, 10:55 PM
Appealing to his greater international experience, Paraguayan Cerro Porteño shot down Fortaleza in Brazil with a 1-0 victory, while the Peruvian Sporting Cristal knew how to overcome Hurricane in Buenos Aires taking a 0-0, in the first leg this Thursday of the third phase of the Copa Libertadores 2023.
The Argentinian striker Diego Churín, with a recent past in the Brazilian Gremio and Atlético Goianiense, gave the visitors the victory with a header in minute 34 that silenced the Arena Castelao World Cup stadium, in the city of Fortaleza (northeast).
The goal was an endorsement of the superb performance of his goalkeeper, who twelve minutes before stopped a maximum penalty to the gunner Thiago Galhardo and had other vital saves to keep the zero in the goal of the ‘Ciclón’, trained by the Argentine Facundo Sava.
Cerro will defend the advantage next Thursday in Asunción. The winner will qualify for the group stage, while the loser will go to the same instance of the Copa Sudamericana.
In Buenos Aires, Sporting Cristal left the Tomás Adolfo Ducó stadium unscathed by taking a goalless draw for Lima against Huracán.
The result leaves the series open with a view to revengewhich will be played next Thursday at the National Stadium in Lima, beyond a slight favoritism for the Peruvian team, which will seek to assert the locality.
The return matches will be played next week.while the group stage will be played between April 5 and June 28, simultaneously with the group stage of the Copa Sudamericana.
– Results of the first legs of the third phase of the Copa Libertadores 2023:
Wednesday:
In Rancagua: Magallanes (CHI) – Independiente Medellín (COL) 1-1
In Bogota: Millonarios (COL) – Atlético Mineiro (BRA) 1-1
Thursday:
In Buenos Aires: Huracán (ARG) – Sporting Cristal (PER) 0-0
In Fortaleza: Fortaleza (BRA) – Cerro Porteño (PAR) 0-1
