Libertadores: Mineiro attracts visit to Millonarios

BOGOTÁ (AP) — Atlético Mineiro salvaged a 1-1 draw away to Millonarios on Wednesday in the first leg of the third qualifying phase for the Copa Libertadores.

At the El Campín stadium in Bogotá, the Brazilian team – champions of the continental tournament in 2013 and semi-finalists in 2021 – achieved a valuable result with Paulinho’s goal after 65 minutes, which left the game tied until definition next week in Belo Horizon.

“We are sorry for the fatigue of playing at altitude, but my players made a big effort and it didn’t show on the pitch,” said Atlético Mineiro’s Argentine coach Eduardo Coudet. “I’m not leaving happy because we had chances to have won.”

The “Galo” had the best chances to score in the first half, but collided with local goalkeeper Álvaro Montero, who interrupted several arrivals on a counterattack.

At minute 41, Millonarios opened the scoring with a corner which David Macalister Silva finished with a header.

In the second half, the Colombian team tried to maintain the advantage with Andrés Llinás leading the defense, but a distraction allowed Paulinho to uncheck, who decreed the final result with a definition from above before the start from Montero.

“We weren’t clear in the delivery and that’s how they managed to level us with a long ball,” said Millonarios captain David Macalister Silva. “It was a hard fought game, but we were true to our style, pressing high and going for the win.”

MAGALLANES AND MEDELLÍN TIE At the El Teniente de Rancagua stadium, a 94th-minute goal by Yorman Zapata earned Magallanes a 1-1 draw against Independiente de Medellín.

The Chilean team, which returns to the Libertadores after 38 years after a historic 2022 in which they won the Chilean Cup and promotion to the first division, scored the equalizer in the last action of the first match of the series that grants a ticket to the group stage of the tournament.

Despite conceding more than 70% possession of the ball, Medellín, who beat El Nacional of Ecuador in the previous phase, created the best scoring chances and repeatedly asked for the goalkeeper of the hosts, the Uruguayan Gastón Rodríguez.

After Argentinian Luciano Pons and Ever Valencia’s final shot failed, Emerson Batalla finally broke the zero at 70 minutes with a shot inside the box.

Magallanes, who knocked out Always Ready in the previous leg with an aggregate score of 6-1, went on the attack looking for an equalizer and did so when Zapata headed in a cross from Simón Contreras of the ‘right wing.

“We knew it would be a tough game. We never lose our idea of ​​the game and thanks to that we get results,” said Zapata, a 22-year-old Colombian striker who has had a career in Chilean football since 2019.

Medellín, who will be local next week in the definition of the key, left with the disappointment of having let the victory slip away at the last moment.

“They had the ball, but they didn’t create any danger for us. I think we should have won the game, but we lacked precision and now it’s time to define it in Medellín,” said the midfielder. of DIM Andrés Ricaurte.

FINAL IN RIO DE JANEIRO

The president of Conmebol, Alejandro Domínguez, informed on Wednesday through his social networks that the final of the Copa Libertadores 2023, scheduled for November 11, will be played at the Maracaná stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

Meanwhile, the Copa Sudamericana decider will be played at Centenario Stadium in Montevideo on October 28.