Independiente vs. Libertad: first-leg match
Independiente lost 1-0 to Libertad at Defensores del Chaco Stadium (Asuncion) in the first leg of the 2017 Copa Sudamericana semifinals. The 'gumarelo' achieved a good victory, but they cannot be overconfident. The Argentine team only needs to reverse the minimum difference to reach the final of the tournament.
Libertad from Paraguay won 1-0 against Independiente from Argentina in the first leg of the 2017 Copa Sudamericana semifinals, played at Defensores del Chaco Stadium in Asuncion, with about 12,000 spectators.
The only goal of the match was scored by the experienced Paraguayan forward Oscar "Tacuara" Cardozo just 29 seconds into the game.
However, the former Benfica forward was sent off in the 74th minute for elbowing Argentine defender Alan Franco from 'El Rojo'.
The second leg will be played in Buenos Aires next Tuesday, and the winner of the series will face the winner of the semifinal match between Flamengo from Brazil and Junior from Colombia for the title.
Independiente vs. Libertad: confirmed line-ups
Libertad: Muñoz; Cardozo, Alcaraz, Da Silva, Candia; Bareiro, Aquino, Lucena, Medina; Salcedo, Cardozo.
Independiente: Campaña; Bustos, Franco, Silva; Domingo, Rodríguez, Sánchez Miño, Barco; Meza, Gigliotti.
For the match, Fernando Jubero, the Spanish coach who leads the Paraguayan team, has a doubt in the right back position, where Alan Benitez or Luis Cardozo could start.
Independiente vs. Libertad: match schedules around the world
| Country | Time |
| Peru | 7:15 p.m. |
| Colombia | 7:15 p.m. |
| Mexico | 6:15 p.m. |
| Argentina | 9:15 p.m. |
| Chile | 9:15 p.m. |
| Paraguay | 9:15 p.m. |
| United States (Florida) | 7:15 p.m. |
| Spain | 1:15 a.m. (Wednesday) |
The rest of the Libertad team against Independiente would be the same as the one that eliminated Racing in the quarterfinals, mostly composed of national team veterans like Oscar 'Tacuara' Cardozo. Additionally, their attacking partner Santiago Salcedo and the center-backs Antolin Alcaraz and Paulo Da Silva would also be part of the team.
On the other hand, the Argentine team comes to the match with great enthusiasm after their resounding 1-0 victory over River Plate on Saturday in the Argentine Superliga. Their coach, Ariel Holan, said that 'El Rojo' is putting all their efforts into achieving the great goal of adding a new trophy to the club's showcases.
"We have a historic opportunity," said Holan in statements to journalists, emphasizing that it has been seven years since the club experienced the illusion of reaching the top.
Independiente vs. Libertad: possible line-ups
Libertad: Muñoz; Benitez, Alcaraz, Da Silva, Candia; Bareiro, A. Cardozo, Aquino, Medina; Salcedo, O. Cardozo.
Independiente: Campaña; Bustos, Franco, Amorebieta, Tagliafico; Domingo, Rodríguez, Meza, Barco; Sánchez Miño, Gigliotti.
Source (AFP)