Ponte Preta wins 1-0 against Sol de América
Ponte Preta defeated Sol de América 1-0 in the first leg of the second phase of the 2017 Copa Sudamericana. The Brazilian team achieved the agonizing victory minutes before the end of the match thanks to a goal from Emerson Sheik.
Ponte Preta defeated Paraguayan team Sol de América 1-0 on Thursday in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana second phase played at their Campinas stadium (southeast of Brazil), taking the first step to secure a place in the round of 16.
In a match with very little football, veteran Emerson Sheik saved the locals at the last moment with a beautiful goal in the 89th minute, when the final draw seemed already a fact.
Until then, the absence of their top scorer Lucca had weighed heavily on the locals. Lucca, vice-top scorer of the Brazilian championship, was serving his second suspension after being sent off in the first phase against Gimnasia.
After the unexpected defeat, Sol de América will host the second leg at their Asunción stadium on July 26.
The winner of the tie will face the winner of the match between Sport Recife and Arsenal de Sarandí in the round of 16.
⛳ Ponte Preta vs. Sol de América: confirmed lineups. ⛳
Ponte Preta. Aranha, Nino Paraíba, Marllon, Rodrigo, and João Lucas; Fernando Bob, Elton, and Renato Cajá; Claudinho, Lucca, and Emerson Sheik.
Sol de América. Silva; Olmedo, Velázquez, Mareco, Velázquez; Rojas, Franco, Vargas, Mendieta, Ruíz Díaz; and Giménez.
MATCH PREVIEW.
Ponte Preta will have an important absence, that of their best player, forward Lucca, who serves his second suspension after being sent off from the bench in the first leg match against Argentine side Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata.
Lucca, second top scorer of the Brazilian Championship with seven goals, scored in the last five home matches and is the main offensive reference of the São Paulo team.
Coach Gilson Kleina must choose between Lins or Negueba to occupy Lucca's place and provide support in the attack alongside veteran Emerson Sheik, 38, who is looking for his first goal with the club, where he arrived in early May.
Ponte Preta comes into the match after losing 1-2 at home to Palmeiras on Sunday, a result that dropped them to 11th place with 14 points in 10 matches, 12 points behind leaders Corinthians from São Paulo.
| COUNTRY | TIME |
| Peru | 5:15 p.m. |
| Mexico | 5:15 p.m. |
| Colombia | 5:15 p.m. |
| Ecuador | 5:15 p.m. |
| Chile | 6:15 p.m. |
| Argentina | 7:15 p.m. |
| Spain | 7:15 p.m. |
In the visiting team, coached by Argentine Fernando Ortiz, there are also changes compared to the first knockout stage against Venezuelan side Estudiantes de Caracas, which Sol de América resolved with a comprehensive 10-3 aggregate victory.
The club's new signings for the second semester, such as Aldo Vera, Alejandro Nicolás Martínez, Argentine center-back Nicolás Arrechea, and Pedro Arce, have been registered for the tournament and are part of the 20-player expedition that traveled to Campinas.
Sol de América comes into the match after finishing the Paraguayan Apertura last Friday with a 1-1 draw at home against Sportivo Luqueño, which left them in fifth place, 15 points behind champions Libertad.
Sol de América vs. Ponte Preta: possible lineups:
Sol de América: Agustín Silva; Aldo Olmedo, Víctor Velázquez, Víctor Mareco, Gustavo Velázquez; Tomás Rojas, Richard Franco, Claudio Vargas, David Mendieta, Rodrigo Ruíz Díaz; and Martín Giménez.
Ponte Preta: Aranha; Nino Paraíba, Rodrigo, Marllon, Fernandinho; Fernando Bob, Renato Cajá, Elton; Claudinho, Emerson, and Lins.