The Ecuadorian club Independiente del Valle beat the Brazilian América de Belo Horizonte at home on Wednesday, 0-2, and thus won its first victory in Group D of the Copa Libertadores soccer match.
Midfielder Júnior Sornoza, an old acquaintance of the Brazilian fans after defending Corinthians from São Paulo and Fluminense from Rio de Janeiro, and reserve Billy Arce sealed the victory for the team from the city of Sangolquí.
The team led by the Portuguese coach Renato Paiva surprised 11 minutes into the first half in a move initiated by the Ecuadorian-Argentine side Richard Schunke, who enabled Sornoza to open the scoring.
The Ecuadorians did not give an opportunity to react and were about to widen, but veteran goalkeeper Jailson prevented Independiente del Valle’s second goal.
In the second half, the figure was the visiting goalkeeper Moisés Ramírez, who always stopped the attacks of the local team, in which Felipe Azevedo was the most incisive player, later supported by the entry of the Colombian creative Juan Pablo “El Indio” Ramírez.
In replacement time, when it seemed that the “Coelho” (rabbit) would get the tie and was focused on Ramírez’s goal, a lethal counterattack by the Argentine Lorenzo Favarelli ended at the feet of Arce, who put specific numbers on the scoreboard.
With the victory at the Independencia stadium in Belo Horizonte, Independiente del Valle assumed partial leadership of the group with 3 points.
