El Montevideo City Torque uruguayo y el Barcelona ecuatoriano igualaron este martes 1-1 en el partido que abrió la sexagésima tercera edición de la Copa Libertadores. Joaquín Zeballos para los locales y Gonzalo Mastriani para los visitantes marcaron los goles en el estadio Centenario.
Allí, en el campo donde el Palmeiras alzó la copa en noviembre de 2021, el balón del principal certamen continental a nivel de clubes volvió a rodar 73 días después. Y aunque muchas cosas cambiaron respecto a ese partido, algo se mantuvo: la importancia del número 9. Aquella tarde, cuando el reloj marcaba 96, Deyverson anotó el tanto que coronó a los dirigidos por el portugués Abel Ferreira, minutos después de que Gabigol Barboza empatara transitoriamente el juego para el Flamengo.
Este martes, a los seis minutos de juego, el uruguayo Mastriani aprovechó una gran habilitación Byron Castillo y demostró por qué fue el elegido para comandar el ataque de su equipo. Un disparo que se estrelló contra el palo y otro tras capturar el rebote de esa jugada le permitieron poner en ventaja a los visitantes, uno de los semifinalistas de la Libertadores 2021.
Con el Barcelona ganando por 0-1, los uruguayos se volcaron al ataque aunque no le generaron mayor peligro al portero Javier Burrai. Del otro lado, Leonel Quiñónez probó con un tiro libre y Mastriani se lo perdió por muy poco en una jugada en la que fue trabado por Tiago Palacios cuando estaba a punto de anotar. De esa forma, la primera parte finalizó con derrota para los locales, que juegan la Libertadores por primera vez en su historia.
En el comienzo de la segunda etapa, el Montevideo City se lanzó nuevamente al ataque al mismo tiempo que el Barcelona fue retrocediendo en el campo. A los 65, luego de un centro de Agustín Peña, el lateral José Álvarez sacó un potente disparo que Joaquín Zeballos desvió para decretar la igualdad.
Esta vez fue el encargado de comandar el ataque del equipo perteneciente al City Football Group el que convirtió y puso cifras definitivas al encuentro.
De esta forma todo quedó por resolverse en la revancha que se disputará el próximo 15 de febrero en el estadio Monumental Isidro Romero, donde los locales no podrán contar con el argentino Damián 'Kitu' Díaz, quien fue expulsado después de haber sido reemplazado.
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