Corinthians beats Nacional-PAR and assumes vice-leadership of the group in the South American Championship

Corinthians did not shine, but defeated Nacional-PAR 2-0 this Tuesday, at Defensores del Chaco, in the Copa Sudamericana. The winning goals were scored by Yuri Alberto and Matheuzinho.

With the result, António Oliveira’s team jumped to second place in Group F, with seven points. In search of classification, Timão will end its participation in the first phase of the tournament with two home games. The group leader is Racing-URU, with eight points. Nacional is in last place, with just one.

Corinthians returns to the field for the Sudamericana in a week, next Tuesday. The team faces Argentinos Juniors at Neo Química Arena, starting at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), in the fifth round of the group stage of the tournament.

Before that, Timão visits Flamengo, in the sixth round of the Brazilian Championship. The duel is scheduled for 4pm this Saturday, at Maracanã.

The game

The one who got scared for the first time in Asunción was Nacional. In the eighth minute, Meza received a cross in the area and headed it at Cacá. On the rebound, he kicked with his right leg, already lying on the ground, and put Carlos Miguel in danger.

Corinthians responded through Félix Torres, in the 11th minute. Biro took a corner, but the rival defense cleared the ball out of the area. She continued with Timão, who almost opened the scoring with a header from the Ecuadorian, cut by Núñez.

António Oliveira’s team had difficulty creating plays and saw the local team hit the post defended by Carlos Miguel, in the 22nd minute. Diego Duarte dominated the area after a counterattack and shot low at the post. Nacional also got the rebound and forced the Corinthians goalkeeper to make a good save afterwards.

One of Timão’s only escape options was the boy Wesley. In the 33rd minute, the young man started at speed and cleared two markers, but was stopped for a foul. From the kick, Romero sent it over the opponent’s goal. And it was only in a first half of few emotions at Defensores del Chaco.

Second time

Corinthians came back from the break and barely found the net after just four minutes. Biro dominated with freedom at the edge of the area and was brought down by the marker, therefore, a dangerous foul for Timão. Paraguayan Romero hit with class, in the corner, but Antony Silva stretched out and spread it towards the bottom line.

The home team did not let it go and arrived in danger after ten minutes. After a throw-in in the area, Diego Duarte finished low and required great intervention from Carlos Miguel. The goalkeeper made another save at 13, after Duarte’s venomous header.

At 22, it was Romero’s turn to scare Nacional. Matheuzinho took a free kick in the area, and the attacker headed it firmly to the ground, but Antony Silva saved the home team.

Timão finally opened the scoring in the 29th minute. Romero made a good move on the right side, played with Matheuzinho and crossed for Yuri Alberto. The number 9 rose freely into the small area and, with his head, put the ball into the back of the net.

Carlos Miguel even saved Timão from equalizing in the 37th minute, after Alfaro’s header. Romero even increased Corinthians’ lead in the 45th minute, but the goal was canceled out by a touch on the Paraguayan’s hand. There was still time for Tiago Caballero to be sent off after a mix-up, in stoppage time.

In the last minutes, Matheuzinho started at speed on the left, hit a cross and increased the score. The ball even hit the post before hitting the net. The winger was injured after the attempt and had to leave the field on a stretcher.

DATASHEET
CORINTHIANS 2 X 0 NATIONAL-PAR

Local: Defenders of the Chaco, in Asunción (PAR)
Date: May 7, 2024 (Tuesday)
Time: at 7pm (Brasília time)
Referee: Angel Arteaga (VEN)
Assistants: Alberto Ponte (VEN) and Freiker Colmemares (VEN)
VAR: Carlos Orbe (EQU)
Yellow cards: Meza, Claudio Núñez and Blas Cáceres (Nacional-PAR); Wesley (Corinthians)
Red cards: Tiago Caballero (Nacional-PAR)

GOALS: Yuri Alberto, at 29′ in the 2nd Quarter (Corinthians); Matheuzinho, at 51′ of the 2nd Q

NATIONAL: Anthony Silva; Juan Luis Alfaro, Claudio Núñez, Blasi and Rivas; Blas Cáceres (Santacruz), Juan Fernando Alfaro (Tiago Caballero), Meza (Marcelo González) and Gustavo Caballero (Bailone); Diego Duarte and Alan Gómez.
Technician: Victor Bernay

CORINTHIANS: Carlos Miguel; Fagner, Félix Torres, Cacá and Hugo; Paulinho, Breno Bidon and Guilherme Biro (Matheuzinho (Giovane)); Gustavo Mosquito (Yuri Alberto), Wesley (Gustavo Henrique) and Romero.
Technician: Antonio Oliveira