1-1: Tie between Strongest and Libertad

Argentine Bautista Merlini scored a goal for his team, Paraguayan Libertad, in a 1-1 draw against Bolivian The Strongest at the Hernando Siles stadium in La Paz, in one of the opening Group B matches of the Copa Libertadores .

The series also consists of Brazilian Paranaense and Venezuelan Caracas have four teams with one point after also registering a goalless draw between the two teams last Tuesday.

Goals were conquests by Enrique Triverio in the 11th minute for the Tigers and an equalizer for Gumarelo came thanks to Merlini in the 14th minute.

In the first few minutes, the game was locked and the two teams were looking to take control of half the field.

A foul by Henry Vaca of The Strongest on Mathías Espinoza resulted in the injury of the latter substitute and the yellow card for local team player Chilean judge Nicolás Gamboa.

In the 11th minute, a defensive error after a lateral kick by Libertad led to a game that Triverio took advantage of that opened an account for the Bolivian Tigers.

However, the excitement didn’t last long when three minutes later Merlini hit a header after overflowing from the left to set the par at 3,650 meters of La Paz altitude.

Then the game is played in the middle of the field, where The Strongest has more ball possession and has Libertad well-standing.

In the second half, the pressure from The Strongest within minutes was exhausting, mainly with mid-distance shots from Luciano Ursino of Argentina and Fernando Saucedo of Bolivia.

Libertad’s defense, however, did not give up on the pressure of a rival who had the clearest chance in the last minute through a header from Colombian Jair Reinoso that hit the crossbar.

Next week The Strongest will visit Atlético Paranaense and Libertad will host Venezuelan Caracas.