LA PAZ (AP) — The Strongest grew strong at the height of La Paz on Thursday and with a 2-1 win over Universidad Católica de Ecuador won the final ticket to the Copa Libertadores group stage.
A goal by Uruguayan Rodrigo Amaral in the 84th minute, after a great individual action in which he beat the rival defense, paved the Bolivian club's qualification, which had rescued a goalless draw in the first leg held last week in Quito.
“I am very happy to be able to score the winning goal. We made a huge effort there in Ecuador, we played with 10 almost the entire match against a rival who plays very well and made the key very hard for us,” said Amaral.
The Uruguayan midfielder has experienced a week of mixed emotions, as before becoming the hero of his team's qualification in the South American contest, he was expelled on Monday for assaulting an assistant referee in the Bolivian tournament defeat to Bolivar.
He is liable to a penalty of at least six months.
In Thursday's match played at the Hernando Siles stadium in La Paz, The Strongest was ahead of 2 minutes, thanks to the goal of Argentine Enrique Triverio, who scored with a precise left-handed shot.
Universidad Católica quickly achieved the tie, five minutes later, when Panamanian Ismael Díaz took advantage of a bad clearance from the Bolivian defense and scored with a powerful right.
The rest of the match remained with a shared dominance until near the end the locals got the definitive advantage.
“We leave very sad because of the defeat. Here in Bolivia, the match was played side and side but in Quito it was not like that. Unfortunately, two mistakes cost us the classification,” said Ecuadorian goalkeeper José Cárdenas.
After the final qualifier for the Copa Libertadores group stage was announced, so were the pots for the draw, which will take place on Friday, March 25:
Pot 1: Palmeiras, River Plate, Boca Juniors, Flamengo, Nacional, Peñarol, Atletico Mineiro and Cerro Porteño.
Pot 2: Athletico Paranaense, Libertad, Independiente del Valle, Universidad Católica (Chile), Emelec, Corinthians, Colo Colo and Vélez Sarsfield.
Pot 3: Sporting Cristal, Deportivo Cali, Bragantino, Deportivo Táchira, Alianza Lima, Deportes Tolima, Colon and Caracas.
Pot 4: Always Ready, Workshops, Independent Oil, Fortaleza, America Mineiro, Estudiantes, Olimpia and The Strongest.
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