Paraguayan Cerro Porteño eliminated from Copa Libertadores 2019

Cerro Porteño was eliminated from the Copa Libertadores 2019 after drawing 1-1 with River Plate on Thursday at the General Pablo Rojas stadium in the quarterfinals second leg.

The Cyclone had to reverse the 2-0 defeat suffered in the first leg in Buenos Aires and it seemed that the feat was within reach with Nelson Haedo Valdez's early goal. However, at the beginning of the second half, Nicolás De la Cruz, the controversial player in the previous match, scored a fantastic goal to bury Cerro Porteño's Copa dreams.

In the semifinals, Marcelo Gallardo's team will face Boca Juniors, who eliminated Liga de Quito.

THE MATCH

Tremendous first half from Cerro Porteño at the Nueva Olla stadium. Miguel Ángel Russo's team was superior and dominated a confused and inaccurate River Plate side.

Cerro Porteño didn't go all out attack. They played calmly, sometimes waiting, sometimes keeping possession, but without desperate attacks. Playing an intelligent match.

The best thing that could happen to Cerro Porteño was to find an early goal. And it happened. In the 7th minute, after a cross from the right by Joaquín Larrivey, Nelson Haedo Valdez anticipated the defender and scored with a header, leaving Franco Armani of River Plate helpless, making it 1-0 for the home team and bringing hope to the 40,000 passionate supporters in the stadium.

The early goal strengthened Cerro Porteño, who from that moment on pressed and stifled their opponent, who showed no orientation and failed to create a single dangerous situation for Juan Pablo Carrizo's goal.

With Cerro Porteño pushing, they had a couple of important chances before the end of the first half, but failed to convert. The first half ended with a narrow advantage for the hosts.

In the second half, Cerro Porteño came out with everything and immediately posed a threat with a run from Óscar Ruiz, which didn't end well.

But in the 51st minute, a cold shower for Cerro Porteño. River Plate equalized through the Uruguayan player Nicolás De la Cruz, who took advantage of a rebound given by Juan Pablo Carrizo to unleash a tremendous shot from outside the box that hit the crossbar and spectacularly went in, making it 1-1 in the match.

A tough blow for Cerro Porteño, who needed three goals to turn the tie around. From that moment on, Cerro Porteño was never the same.

In fact, it was Marcelo Gallardo's team that had the protagonism, and with the substitute appearances of Lucas Pratto and Ignacio Scocco, they were close to scoring a second goal.

The minutes passed and the final whistle from referee Julio Bascuñán arrived. It was a 1-1 draw, a result that eliminates the Paraguayan team and sends the Argentinians to the semifinals.

End of the dream for Cerro Porteño, who now has to focus on the Clausura 2019 tournament, the only competition they have left, as they were also eliminated from the Copa Paraguay.

As for River Plate, they will once again play against their lifelong archrival, Boca Juniors, in semifinals of the Copa Libertadores, promising passion and excitement.