Argentine goalkeeper Javier Burrai and Brazilian midfielder Leonai Souza hit the penalties on Tuesday that qualified the Barcelona Ecuadorian to the second preliminary playoff phase of the Copa Libertadores, where he will meet the Universitario de Deportes, from Peru. Barcelona tied 0-0 in regular time with the Uruguayan Montevideo City Torqueso the match played in Guayaquil was defined in the penalty shootout.
In the first leg, in Uruguay, there was also a 1-1 draw, so today’s equality gave way to the definition from eleven meters, a round in which eight shots were taken by each team. Everyone scored, but Burrai saved Santiago Cartagena’s penalty and Souza did score the eighth for Barcelona, which won 8-7 and thus reached the second play-off stage.
Montevideo City Torque showed greatness in resisting Barcelona’s dominance and could even have won if it weren’t for goalkeeper Burrai, who saved shots on goal. The first half featured Barcelona’s dominance and football control, while the visitor went to great lengths to defend the draw, so they came out well freed from the permanent attacks of the local team. However, the first approach to the goal was generated by Montevideo City Torque, with a precise pass from Cevallos to Guerrero who looked for the shot on goal, but Byron Castillo anticipated it, in minute 3. Later, the Ecuadorian Michael Carcelén joined by right with the Argentine Emmanuel Martínez, but his shot went to the side of the frame, in the 17th minute. Then Castillo released himself once more on the attack, enabled Martínez and the latter to Mastriani who finished off a half turn to the side of the goal and later gave another header, but the ball arrived weak at the hands of goalkeeper Francisco Tinaglini.
Montevideo City Torque orchestrated a good attack, taking advantage of the local defensive disorder, and the recently entered Natanael Guzmán finished off and the Argentine goalkeeper Javier Burrai caught the ball with difficulty. Adonis Preciado squandered Barcelona’s best scoring chance in the second half, receiving a late pass free of charge, but he shot to the side. Nathanael Guzmán enjoyed one last great opportunity to get past the Barcelona defense, but goalkeeper Burrai once again won the duel against the Uruguayan attackers.