Author: Vishwajit Sawant
In a tense and thrilling encounter at the Estadio Monumental de Victoria, Libertad booked their place in the last 16 of the Copa Sudamericana after beating Tigre 1-0 in the second leg of their last-16 tie. The 3-1 aggregate scoreline in Libertad’s favor highlighted their dominance in the tie, showing their resilience and efficiency in the two knockout stage matches.
The decisive moment came early on, in the 24th minute, when Alexander Barboza rose above the Tigre defense to head home a perfect cross from Hector Villaba. That goal further solidified Libertad’s grip on the tie, leaving Tigre with a mountain to climb if they wanted to recover.
Throughout the game, Tigre showed their intent to attack and their dominant style of play. With 63% of the ball, the team tried to break down Libertad’s disciplined defense. However, their 17 attempts on goal only managed to produce three shots on target, which were efficiently dealt with by Libertad’s resolute goalkeeper and defense.
Libertad, on the other hand, adopted a more pragmatic approach, looking to capitalize on counter-attacking opportunities. With only 8 shots in total, the team was clinical in converting their chances into goals. Despite missing four great chances to extend the lead, the early goal was enough to secure qualification for the next round.
Tigre’s passing accuracy was 78%, with 403 of the 519 passes attempted. However, their inability to penetrate Libertad’s defense and convert possession into clear chances was their downfall. Libertad, with a pass accuracy of 61%, were more focused on keeping their shape and stopping Tigre’s advances.
The match witnessed some intense battles in midfield, with both teams fighting tooth and nail for control. Tigre’s midfielders tried to dictate the pace of the game, but Libertad’s players showed great determination and defensive solidarity to neutralize their efforts.
Despite Tigre’s commendable efforts, Libertad’s well-organized defence and their ability to counter-attack proved to be the decisive factors. The Paraguayan team showed their experience and tactical acumen to manage the game effectively and advance to the next stage of the competition.
Couples 1/8 finals (August 1st to 8th)
- Emelec (Ecu) – Defense and Justice (Arg)
- Botafogo RJ (Bra) – Guarani (Par)
- Nublense (Chi) – LDU (Ecu)
- San Lorenzo (Arg) – São Paulo (Bra)
- Estudiantes (Arg) – Goias (Bra)
- Corinthians (Bra) – Newll’s Олд Бойс (Arg)
- Libertad Asuncion (Par) – Fortaleza (Bra)
- América-MG (Bra) – Red Bull Bragantino (Bra)