Emelec took a leap in quality this Tuesday by reaching second place in Group A of the Libertadores Cupled by Palmeiras, with a 4-1 away win against Deportivo Táchira, which has fallen to third place.
The game at the Pueblo Nuevo stadium had no equivalents, as the Guayaquil formation pressed from the beginning and thanks to an inspired day by the Uruguayan Sebastián Rodríguez, who scored a hat-trick, they won the match from the third minute.
Rodríguez expanded in the 11th minute and scored the goal by accurately executing a penalty in the 59th minute.
The first goal culminated with a shot from the right foot from the outside of the area with the assistance of Alexis Zapata. The second was outlined with a direct shot to the left corner.
However, pressure from Táchira made it possible to close the gap in the 37th minute when Anthony Uribe scored the goal with a header from the center of the area.
Táchira’s discount heated up the spirits in Pueblo Nuevo and Argentine referee Pablo Echeverría admonished Robert Garcés, from Deportivo Táchira, and Joel Quintero, from Emelec.
The second half was marked by dangerous cuts from Táchira that those from Emelec managed to overcome and those who overcame with two more marks.
In the 48th minute, Uribe tried to equalize Táchira with a header from the center of the area that went too high.
But the Ecuadorians pushed the chance of equalizing away when Rodríguez scored his third of the night through a penalty in the 59th minute.
The icing on the cake was provided by striker Alejandro Cabeza with a powerful shot from outside the area that slipped in through the right side of the goal after 74 minutes had elapsed.
The fourth day will close for Group A later, with the clash in Bolivian territory between the bottom team Independiente Petrolero, who has one point, and the two-time champion Palmeiras, who dominates the key with 9 points out of 9 possible, and who can anticipate his qualifying for the round of 16.
On the fifth date, scheduled for May 18, Palmeiras will host Emelec and Táchira will host Independiente Petrolero.
