VAR allowed Nicolas Gallo a goal in agony for Liga de Quito and Ecuador won the first leg.
Quito League vs Fluminense Cup Winners' Cup First Leg
Photo: GALO PAGUAY / AFP
By:
Futbolred editorial
February 22, 2024, 09:32 pm m.
Copa Sudamericana and Libertadores 2023 champions Liga de Quito and Fluminense went head-to-head for the first leg of the Cup Winners' Cup in Ecuadorian territory, in a match that ended in a controversial goal for the Brazilians with a local win. It was recognized by Colombian VAR Nicolás, who made the last minute save.
On paper it looked like Fluminense was going to pull off a win due to the superiority of its roster, but the Ecuadorians respected their home side and brushed aside the Brazilians.
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However, at Fluminense, Colombian John Arias was one of the most assertive in attack and was off balance on several occasions, but he was unable to find the target.
There weren't many scoring chances in that first half, but the Liga de Quito managed to disrupt the Brazilians' goal, with Lucas Ezequiel Piovi and Sebastián González Baguero finding the back of the net, but they didn't succeed in front of goal.
As for the complement, the altitude was already affecting Fluminense and stocks were beginning to be scarce and Fernando Diniz had to make some changes, one of which was the departure of German Cano.
However, LDU came back on the attack in the last 20 minutes and had chances to open the scoring but the failure to finish was their biggest sin.
Likewise, Fluminense scored on occasions when they failed to score but it cost them, although Lima Lima eventually got the ball in the area and he finished hard.
The tie dragged on and Fluminense committed themselves to taking care of a favorable tie, while Liga de Quito pressed but it wasn't enough, although at 90+1 the locals scored a free kick and Adrian Arce grabbed the goal in the area, but Colombian central defender Andres Rojas was ruled offside in the first instance. Adjudged to be, but VAR Nicolas Gallo ran it on and ruled the annotation was correct when the lines were drawn.
The Recopa Sudamericana will be played again on Thursday, February 29 in Rio de Janeiro, where the Brazilians will look to return as champions.
