Author: Vishwajit Sawant
In a thrilling match, Nublense, the team that came out of Flamengo’s Libertadores group, secured a 2-0 win over Audax Italiano on Friday (21) and progressed in the South American tournament. The match, originally scheduled for the previous day, had to be moved from the Estadio Municipal de Concepcién to the Estadio El Teniente in Rancagua, Chile, due to the waterlogged pitch.
From the start, Nublense showed their attacking prowess with quick attacking moves and skillful passing, creating several chances to score. Audax Italiano, however, managed to get back on their feet, taking control of possession and neutralizing their opponents’ early momentum. Despite the notable improvement in their attacking play, Audax struggled to find the decisive pass that would lead to dangerous chances against Nublense goalkeeper Nicola Pérez.
The turning point came in the second half, when Manuel Rivera’s excellent pass found Bayron Oyarzo, who seized the opportunity and hit a low cross to open the scoring for Nublense. Audax Italiano stepped up their efforts to get the equalizer, putting pressure on the Nublense defense, but were unable to convert their chances into goals. Gabriel Hachen and Nicola Pérez had promising attempts, but the Nublense defense and goalkeeper thwarted their efforts.
A disallowed goal from Pablo Arénguiz, due to a clear offside by Oyarzo, didn’t change the result, and Nublense held on to secure their place in the South American tournament. With this impressive victory, the Jaime Garcia-led side now look forward to a challenging clash against LDU in the next round, further fueling their ambition to make their mark in the continental 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)