A superb header from Leonardo Pais was enough for this Thursday Montevideo wanderers won away from home 1-0 at Long Hill and get your ticket to the group stage of the South American Cup.
In the first minutes of the match, both teams generated few scoring actions away from the small area with a game that took place mostly in the middle of the field.
However, Cerro Largo went out in search of the result that would allow him to overcome the series and through Emiliano Villar he generated the first goal action, which was rejected inside the area by defender Juan Aguirre.
In the 26th minute, the Wanderers’ first scoring chance came with the execution of a free kick by Nicolás Quagliata that goalkeeper Lucero Álvarez managed to cover. A minute later, an oversight by the Cerro Largo defense allowed player Leonardo Pais a chance that grazed the post.
Later, Cerro Largo closed its defense, which did not allow the Wanderers any new scoring chances while they tried to come back on offense. The first half ended without major setbacks for both teams despite the fact that Cerro Largo tried on more occasions to score the first goal of the game.
At the beginning of the second half, the Wanderers jumped onto the pitch putting pressure on their rival for the first few minutes but without success. Lucero Álvarez saved his goal again with a powerful shot from outside the box by Wanderers player Nicolás Quagliata, who deflected it to a corner.
The Wanderers’ pressure paid off when in the 53rd minute Diego Rolón overflowed down the left side of the field to connect a cross into the small area that Leonardo Pais managed to head for the first and final goal of the match.
Wanderers joins fellow Uruguayan River Plate in the group stage, who left Liverpool on the road on Wednesday.
