The Montevideo City Torque Uruguayan and the Barcelona Ecuadorian matched this Tuesday 1-1 in the match that opened the sixty-third edition of the Libertadores Cup. Joaquín Zeballos for the locals and Gonzalo Mastriani for the visitors scored the goals at the Centenario stadium.
There, on the field where Palmeiras lifted the cup in November 2021, the ball of the main continental competition at club level rolled again 73 days later. And although many things changed with respect to that game, something remained: the importance of the number 9. That afternoon, when the clock read 96, Deyverson scored the goal that crowned those led by the Portuguese Abel Ferreira, minutes after Gabigol Barboza temporarily tied the game for Flamengo.
This Tuesday, after six minutes of play, the Uruguayan Mastriani took advantage of a great clearance by Byron Castillo and showed why he was chosen to lead his team’s attack. A shot that hit the post and another after capturing the rebound of that play allowed him to put the visitors, one of the semifinalists of the Libertadores 2021, ahead.
With Barcelona winning 0-1, the Uruguayans turned to the attack although they did not create any great danger for goalkeeper Javier Burrai. On the other side, Leonel Quiñónez tried a free kick and Mastriani narrowly missed it on a play in which he was blocked by Tiago Palacios as he was about to score. Thus, the first half ended in defeat for the locals, who are playing the Libertadores for the first time in their history.
At the beginning of the second stage, Montevideo City went on the attack again at the same time that Barcelona was falling back on the field. At minute 65, after a cross from Agustín Peña, winger José Álvarez took a powerful shot that Joaquín Zeballos deflected to declare equality.
This time it was the one in charge of commanding the attack of the team belonging to the City Football Group who converted and put definitive figures on the match.
In this way, everything remained to be resolved in the rematch that will be played on February 15 at the Monumental Isidro Romero stadium, where the locals will not be able to count on the Argentine Damián ‘Kitu’ Díaz, who was expelled after being replaced.
DATA SHEET
Montevideo City-Barcelona 1-1
1 – Montevideo City Torque: Franco Tinaglini; Agustín Peña (m.85, Natanael Guzmán), Renzo Orihuela, Diego Arismendi, José Álvarez; Álvaro Brun, Marcelo Allende, Nicolás Milesi (m.75, Darío Pereira), Tiago Palacios (m.55, Sebastián Guerrero); Juan Bautista Cejas and Joaquín Zeballos (d.75, Nicolás Siri).
Trainer: Roman Neck
1 – Barcelona: Javier Burraí; Pedro Pablo Velasco, Darío Aimar, Sosa, Leonel Quiñónez; Leonai Souza, Michael Carcelén (m.62, Nixon Molina), Byron Castillo, Damián Díaz (m.67, Gabriel Cortez), Leandro Emmanuel Martínez (m.62, Cristian Penilla) and Gonzalo Mastriani (m.67, Carlos Garcés) .
Coach: Fabian Bustos
Goals: 0-1, Gonzalo Mastriani (m. 6); 1-1, Jose Alvarez (d. 65)
Referee: The Argentine Darío Herrera admonished Michael Carcelén, Leandro Emmanuel Martínez, Agustín Peña, José Álvarez and Natanael Guzmán. In addition, he expelled Damián Díaz, who had been replaced and was on the bench with the substitutes.
Incidents: Match corresponding to the first phase of the Copa Libertadores 2022 played at the Centenario stadium, in Montevideo
