Tucuman claims first win in Copa Libertadores
La Paz (Bolivia), April 19 (IANS) Argentine football club Atletico Tucuman claimed their first victory in the Copa Libertadores after defeating Bolivian team The Strongest 2-1 away, at an altitude of 3,600 meters here.
Nicolas Romat and Javier Toledo took the two shots which gave the Argentine team the first win in the league on Wednesday evening, while the Strongest’s Colombian Edis Ibarguen was the only player that hit a goal for his team, reports EFE news agency.
With this result, Atletico Tucuman have now three points, the same as The Strongest, and are in third place of Group C, whilst the Bolivians are last due to goal difference.
In the 11th minute, Atletico Tucuman surprised its rival with Romat’s mid-range shot that went past the Strongest’s goalkeeper Jose Penarrieta.
The long-awaited goal for the local team came in the 37th minute, in a play that started at the feet of captain Escobar, who passed the ball to Fernando Martelli, who kicked it on to Ibarguen, who successfully fired the shot into Atletico Tucuman’s net.
In the second half, The Strongest kept the visiting team occupied, although the latter would manage to counterattack.
In the 74th minute, Penarrieta failed to save Toledo’s shot, and Atletico Tucuman scored its second goal.
Both teams will face each other again in Argentina on April 25.
