In extra time, Peru’s Universitario de Deportes drew 2-2 with Brazil’s Goias on Thursday in a match played in Lima on the second day of Group G of the Copa Sudamericana-2023 and climbed to the top of its group.
The goals of the tie for the ‘U’ led by veteran Uruguayan coach Jorge Fossati were scored by Paraguayan William Riveros at 87 and Alex Valera at 90+6 of the match played at the Monumental stadium.
For Goiás, Everton Morelli scored at 57 and Magno José da Silva ‘Maguinho’ at 65.
On the third matchday, Universitario will host Independiente de Santa Fe of Colombia in Lima and Goias will visit Gimnasia y Esgrima of Argentina in La Plata on May 4.
Universitario leads Group G with 4 points, followed by Santa Fe with the same score, but with a lower goal difference. Goiás added 2 points. Gimnasia has no points.
– No harm done –
Universitario started the match on the pitch of the Monumental de Lima betting on an aggressive game and with the strategy of trying to put the visiting team in their field to take away the control of the ball and the possibility of generating attacks against them.
Backed by the thousands of fans who came to their fortress wearing their cream jerseys, the ‘U’ was growing little by little to reach the goal of the experienced goalkeeper Tadeu.
But Goias knew how to stand up well to the onslaught of the local team and responded with counterattacks and good triangulations against the ‘cremas’ attacks. The impetus was not enough for Universitario, who struggled to open the scoring early on to achieve their second win in a row in the key.
In the first matchday, the Peruvian club overcame Gimnasia from Argentina 1-0. After the first quarter of an hour, the match went back and forth with long-range shots from both teams.
Goias appealed to the strong leg to stop the ‘U’ players.
Universitario bet on the speed and good footwork of their midfielders, pressured with intensity the Brazilian team, runner-up in the Copa Sudamericana-2010, who closed their goal well to prevent any possibility of scoring and make a good deal with the tie.
– With “crema” grit –
In the second half, Fossati’s Universitario came out determined to break the 0-0 draw.
But the ‘Alviverde’ team, generating quick counterattacks, sought to open the scoreboard. At 57 minutes, Everton Morelli scored the 1-0 after taking advantage of a headed pass from Vinícios. The goal silenced the Universitario fans for a moment.
With the goal against, Fossati moved his bench and brought in the Uruguayan-Peruvian to give more offensive power to his team. But Goias, with experience, pressed the accelerator to look for their second goal.
In the 65th minute, the defender ‘Maguinho’ headed the 2-0 for the carioca team.
With new changes on the field, Universitario desperately tried to reduce the score. At 87 minutes, Paraguayan defender William Riveros scored the 2-1 for the Peruvian team with a right-footed shot in the small area.
After the discount, the ‘U’ grew in their game to try to equalize the score. At 90+6 minutes, forward Alex Valera scored the 2-2.