Sao Paulo, Brazil — Palmeiras wey be major contender for Copa Libertadores, don beat Cerro Porteño 1-0 for home ground dis Wednesday. Di win carry dem to di top of Group G as dem don collect two victories for two matches.
Di only goal of di match come from Colombian Richard Ríos for minute 41. Dis victory put Palmeiras for good position as dem prepare to face Bolivar for di next match in La Paz, as Bolivar dey currently with three points.
Dis match carry plenty emotions as both teams don sabi di tension wey dey exist after di racist incidents wey affect Palmeiras player Luighi during di Libertadores sub-20 against Cerro for Paraguay. Dis tension show as Palmeiras start di match with serious pace, but dem struggle against a defensive Cerro.
However, di game take a turn when Palmeiras creative player, Raphael Veiga, suffer shoulder injury and leave di pitch for minute 12, causing di team to lose some steam. As di match go on, Palmeiras fans start to boo di team as dem feel dem lack di spark wey dey used to from coach Abel Ferreira.
When di booing reach peak, di team finally hit di net through a beautiful teamwork. Murilo make long pass to Facundo Torres, wey quickly cross di ball to di far post for Felipe Anderson. Ríos show skill as he tap di ball in, opening di score.
After he score, Ríos make gesture to quiet di fans, even though e later apologize: “I was hot-headed. Di fans know I no dey like dat. I respect dem and I want to say sorry for my action. People travel far to support dis team, and I go always give my all.”
For di second half, Palmeiras come back stronger, but dem miss several chances. Both Vitor Roque and di Argentine Flaco López score goals, but VAR check catch dem offside by a hair’s breadth.
Estevao show plenty energy for di right wing, but despite so many chances, Palmeiras no fit score more goals while dey manage a weak Cerro wey seem content with just one goal.
This victory don boost confidence for Palmeiras, who don dey face criticism for di last few weeks. Dis also make di road very tough for Cerro Porteño wey don fall far from title contention back home in Paraguay and dey find am hard for di Libertadores.
Starting XI: Palmeiras: Weverton – Bruno Fuchs, Gustavo Gomez (cap), Murilo Cerqueira – Estêvão, Richard Rios Montoya (Anibal Moreno 84), Raphael Veiga (Felipe Anderson 12), Emiliano Martinez, Joaquín Piquerez – Vitor Hugo Roque Ferreira (Jose Manuel Lopez 84), Facundo Torres (Allan Elias 64). DT: Abel Ferreira.
Cerro Porteño: Roberto Fernández (cap) – Alan Benítez, Victor Velazquez, Jorge Morel, Guillermo Benítez (Leonardo Daniel Rivas 73) – Rodrigo Gómez (Juan Iturbe 46), Robert Ayrton Piris Da Mota (Alan Sonora 73), Gaston Giménez, Wilder Viera (Federico Carrizo 46) – Gabriel Aguayo (Lucas Quintana 57), Jonatan Torres. DT: Diego Martínez.
