He Valley Independent Ecuadorian and Atlético Mineiro Brazilian left the Copa Sudamericana semi-final open this Tuesday (early morning on Wednesday Spanish time) after Dudu will avoid the defeat of the visiting team and achieve the goal of a 1-1 tie in the last gasp of the match played this Tuesday in Quito.
The much of Dudu, At 92 minutes, when the Ecuadorian team was already claiming victory, they neutralized the initial goal scored by the Ecuadorian Junior Sornozafrom a penalty, at 11 minutes.
While the Argentine coach of the Atlético Mineiro, Jorge Sampaoli, gave way to decisive players in the attack like Dudu and Hulk, the Spaniardl Javier Rabanalwho directs the Valle team, entered the youth team Justin Lerma and Yandri Vásquezwho did not have the experience nor the strength to sustain the narrow victory.
Valley Independent: Guido Villar; Matías Fernández, Richard Schunke, Andy Velasco (m.64, Luis Zárate), Gustavo Cortez; Jordy Alcívar, Patrik Mercado, Darwin Guagua (m.68, Justin Lerma), Junior Sornoza (m.84, Jhegson Méndez); Michael Hoyos (m.84, Yandri Vázquez) and Claudio Spinelli
Atlético Mineiro: Everson; Ruan, Vitor Hugo, Júnior Alonso; Gabriel Menino (m.46, Natanael), Franco, Arana (m.78, Caio Paulista), Igor Gomes, Bernard (m.63, Dudu); Gustavo Scarpa (m.73, Biel) and Rony (m.3, Hulk)
Goals: 1-0, Junior Sornoza (11′); 1-1, Dudu (92′)
Referee: Carlos Betancourt, from Colombia. He admonished Ruan, Sornoza, Scarpa and Cortez
Incidents: first leg of the semi-finals of the Copa Sudamericana played at the Banco Guayaquil stadium in Quito
see match sheet
The first half favored the local team, not only because they took the lead on the scoreboard, but also because of the pressure on Atlético Mineiro at the start, stifling them in their intention to pass with the dominated ball to the opposing zone.
The rotation of the ball, changes of front and deep passes unbalanced the visiting team’s intention to take control of the ball. The precise weaves, both from the right and the left, allowed the so-called ‘Matagigantes’ to create the spaces and line up shots by Patrik Mercado and Michael Hoyos.
Javier Rabanal gives instructions to Claudio Spinelli (Photo by Franklin Jacome/Getty Images)
An assist from defender Richard Schunke left the opposing defense in a bad position and Ruan gave Mercado the penalty, so that the experienced Sornoza converted it into a goal.
In the second half, Atlético Mineiro worked better in defense and took control of the actions. A quick counterattack by the Brazilian team allowed Bernard to direct a violent shot, but Villar once again drowned out the Brazilian’s cry for a goal, in the 61st minute.
Jorge Sampaoli celebrates with Eduardo Pereira EFE/ José Jácome
The entry of Dudu, Biel and Hulk gave greater offensive power to the team led by Sampaoli, while Independiente del Valle ended up taking refuge in several corner kicks. Mineiro’s attacks increased and each time the danger of scoring against Villar’s goal was repeated.
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Around 80 minutes, the visitor began to have numerical superiority in the area defended by the Ecuadorian team.
Atlético Mineiro’s insistence on a tie and the fragility that the home team showed in the second half allowed Dudu to push the ball into an empty goal, assisted by Hulk, after a great maneuver.
The second leg will be played in the early hours of October 29 Spanish time in Belo Horizonte, Mineiro’s home, from where one of the two finalists for the 2025 South American title will emerge.
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