1-0. Colombian Jeison Medina scores a penalty for Aucas’ victory over Nacional – 2024-02-16 17:59:24

The Colombian goalscorer Jason Medina The Ecuadorian won 1-0 with a penalty this Thursday Aucas on the paraguayan Nationalin the first leg of the first qualifying phase of the Libertadores Cup disputed in Quito, which will be completed with the return match on February 15.

The main duel of the night occurred between the attackers of the Ecuadorian team and the outstanding performance of the Paraguayan club’s goalkeeper, Antony Silva, which could only be surpassed by Medina’s goal, in the 85th minute.

The match was intense from start to finish, with the local team seeking to open the route to victory on all fronts of their attack, and the visitor with great defensive precautions and few elements in the counterattack, although they came close to getting the tie.

The first half was pleasant due to the scoring opportunities that both teams created and which ended up making goalkeeper Antony Silva a figure, although the Ecuadorian attackers also failed to push the ball into the back of the goal on several occasions.

Silva avoided two shots from close range and aimed at attacker Luis Cano’s goal.

During the first half, “Papá Aucas” generated two other scoring opportunities, in which the Colombian Jeison Medina and the Argentine Mario Sanabria were unable to convert.

Nacional, which came out to populate the midfield and its defense, took advantage of the speed of the attacker Gustavo Caballero to cause two good attacks.

When Caballero was preparing to enter the Auquista area, the Argentine Juan González committed a foul against him, punished by the Chilean referee Piero Maza with a yellow card, and after making a good cross, his teammate Ignacio Bailone finished off wide.

While Aucas increased its offensive proposal, Nacional continued taking refuge in its zone and resorting to counterattacks.

The Argentine goalkeeper Fedrico Lanzillotta, from Aucas, anticipated Bailone’s attack, rejected the ball to the side when he was one-on-one with the attacker.

González launched a perfect cross into the heart of the visiting area, the Colombian Medina finished off with a header, but the ball crashed into the right vertical to the desperation of goalkeeper Silva, in the 59th minute.

Paraguayan defender Carlos Rolón went on the attack, took a violent shot, but goalkeeper Silva blocked the ball.

When Medina was preparing to shoot on goal, Argentine defender Sergio Ojeda fouled the attacker, and referee Maza, assisted by the VAR, sanctioned the action as a penalty. Medina charged and scored with a precise shot, in the 85th minute.

At the end of the match, between Rodrigo Arévalo and Juan Alfaro they were about to score the tie, but ultimately defender Alan García crossed the line and saved his team.

Chilean Maza warned with yellow cards Juan Gonzalez, Mario Sanabria, Luis Cangá, of the Aucas; and Edgardo Orzusa, Antony Silva, Eduardo Duarte, Juan Santacruz and Sergio Ojeda, of National.

The second leg will be played on February 15 in Paraguay. EFE