:format(webp)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/grupoclarin/GK43BQ43XBHAJDJXMIQKFKKJLU.jpg "With a goal from Paraguayan Arce, Liga de Quito beats Fluminense 1-0 in the first leg of the Recopa Sudamericana")
A goal by Paraguayan striker Alex Arce in added time allowed Liga de Quito to defeat Fluminense 1-0 on Thursday in the first leg of the Recopa Sudamericana.
The attacker, who joined the Ecuadorian team this week from Argentine side Independiente Rivadavia, scored the winning goal by finishing off a cross from Ezequiel Piovi when the first minute of added time was up.
The goal was initially disallowed by the assistant referee for offside, but was awarded after the VAR review and allowed the Ecuadorian club to take advantage in the confrontation between the current champions of the Copa Libertadores and the Sudamericana.
“Debuting like this is something unique, it is my first international experience,” commented Arce. “I arrived recently, but today I had to play and help to achieve an important victory.”
The Cup Winners’ Cup duel is the third that both teams have played in the definition of a South American title. Liga de Quito defeated Fluminense in the two previous finals: in the 2008 Libertadores and the 2009 Sudamericana.
Fluminense arrives as champion of the Copa Libertadores after beating Boca Juniors in extra time of the final held in November of last year, which meant its first international title.
Liga de Quito, current champion of the Copa Sudamericana after beating Fortaleza of Brazil in the definition from the penalty spot, is seeking its third Cup Winners’ Cup, after obtaining it in 2009 against Internacional de Porto Alegre and in 2010 against Estudiantes de La Plata.
At the Rodrigo Paz Delgado stadium in Quito, the Ecuadorian team took the initiative and had the best options in the first half with 11 shots, three of which required the Brazilian goalkeeper Fabio.
Fluminense felt the effects of the altitude of more than 2,800 meters above sea level of the Ecuadorian capital, in addition to a persistent rain, and tried to slow down the pace of the commitment to ball possession.
The winger Marcelo, who with winning the Libertadores reached 30 titles in his career, left injured after 12 minutes.
The best chances in the Quito League came with long-distance shots by Óscar Zambrano, Sebastián González and an attempt at an Olympic goal by captain Ezequiel Piovi.
In the second half, striker Keno also had to leave the field after clearing a cross with his head.
Fluminense’s clearest opportunity came in the 73rd minute with a powerful shot from Lima that crashed into the post of the goal defended by Alexander Domínguez.
When it seemed that the Quito League’s attempts – which ended with 24 shots – would not be able to beat Fluminense, Arce’s goal arrived that will allow the Ecuadorians to have an advantage in the rematch, which will be played next Thursday at the Maracaná stadium. from Rio de Janeiro.