Author: Vishwajit Sawant
In a flawless performance at the Rodrigo Paz Delgado Stadium in Quito on Wednesday night (27), Ecuador’s LDU put one foot in the final of the Copa Sudamericana by beating Argentina’s Defensa y Justicia with a resounding 3-0 victory.
The experienced Paolo Guerrero, known for his spells at Brazilian clubs such as Corinthians, Flamengo, Internacional and Avaí, stole the show in the first half by scoring two crucial goals. Guerrero’s accurate finish gave the Ecuadorian side a substantial lead, while Lucas Piovi rounded off the scoring at the end of the match.
With this significant achievement at home, LDU can afford to lose the second leg by a two-goal margin and still secure their place in the final. A three-goal win for Defensa y Justicia would force a penalty shootout to determine the finalist. However, a win by a margin of four goals or more would see Defensa y Justicia advance.
In the game itself, LDU showed their dominance at the start, with Guerrero and his teammates creating several chances. Guerrero eventually opened the scoring in the 16th minute, rising higher than the defense to head the ball into the net from a corner kick.
The Ecuadorian team continued to press, and Guerrero scored his second goal just before half-time. A perfectly timed cross found him in the box and he struck a powerful shot that left the Defensa y Justicia goalkeeper with no chance.
In the second half, LDU maintained control, preventing any attempt by Defensa y Justicia to recover. The home side sealed the win in style with Piovi’s incredible long-range goal in the final moments of the match, securing a convincing 3-0 triumph.
The second leg between Defensa y Justicia and LDU is scheduled for next Wednesday (4) at the Estadio Norberto Tito Tomaghello in Florencio Varela, Argentina, at 7pm (Brasília time).
The final of the Copa Sudamericana is scheduled for October 28 at the Domingo Burgueño stadium in the Punta del Este region of Uruguay. This change of venue was made to ensure a fuller stadium, avoiding empty seats as seen in the recent finals of the “Sula” tournament.