El Bolso continues to lead Group B of the Copa Libertadores. (AFP)
With a goal in stoppage time, Nacional from Uruguay took a 2-2 draw against Internacional this Wednesday in Porto Alegre and kept the top of Group B of the Copa Libertadores 2023.
The defender, with a header (90+1′), kept the Bolso tradition alive in the current edition of the international tournament, in which he scored in the additional of all matches (2-1 against Medellín and Metropolitanos).
the men of Alvaro Gutierrez they rowed against the red gaúchos, of the former Brazilian coach Hand Menezeswhich they scored with the Argentine central defender Gabriel Market (11′) and the Uruguayan midfielder Carlos de Pena (83′).
But they stayed alive at the Beira-Rio World Cup stadium thanks to a goal from the midfielder Diego Zabala (38′).
The tip of the zone will be in dispute again in three weeks, when National (7 points) visit Independiente Medellín on May 23 and International (5) to Metropolitanos, two days later.
Colombians (third, 1 point) and Venezuelans (bottom, no units) collide this Wednesday in Medellín, at the close of the third day of Group B.
red lament
The impetus with which Inter went out onto the Beira-Rio pitch, drenched by the rain that bathed Porto Alegre, led one to believe that the Bag would return to Montevideo with a win on their backs.
The Colorados not only opened the account quickly, with a header from Mercado after a corner kick taken by Wanderson, but they were a steamroller for almost forty minutes.
The Uruguayan goalkeeper Sergio Rochet avoided two goals from Maurício (20′) and Alan Patrick (28′), and was helped by the poor definition of Wanderson (23′) in a one-on-one.
Inter was the absolute owner of the ball (73% possession) and kept the Charrúas away from Keiller’s goal.
But he did not deliver the final blow when he had the opportunity and the prophecy dictated by Menezes before the match was fulfilled: “they do not bother to play without the ball.”
And so it was, despite having a pose of just 27%, and not having seen Keiller’s face for a good part of the first half, they matched the contest without much effort.
old script
Zabala warned first with a left-footed shot (37′) from outside the area that went slightly deviated from the upper right corner of the Brazilian goalkeeper.
Two minutes later, he dodged two opponents, made a failed pass that collided with an opponent and returned to his foot, and finished off a right cross to silence the almost 37,000 souls who attended the Beira-Río.
Upon returning from the dressing rooms, the hosts tried to emulate his overwhelming start to the game, but collided with a well-placed Nacional, who better controlled the attempts of Alemao, De Pena, Alan Patrick, Maurício and the revulsive Lucca.
It was the latter, a 20-year-old attacker, who interrupted the calm that had hitherto pervaded the Celeste goalkeeper’s area.
He won the line on the left, seconds after having entered the field for Maurício, and assisted De Pena, who did not hesitate to finish off to hurt the team in which he made his professional debut.
The game seemed doomed and Menezes’ designs were fulfilled to the letter.
But Inter let their guard down when they least needed to, and Noguera, who had already guaranteed his team an agonizing victory against Medellín last date, jumped in, taking advantage of a cross from the left, and kept Nacional in the lead.
