FOOTBALL
Copa Libertadores Review: Cerro Porteno top group, 93rd-min equaliser salvages River draw
Cerro Porteno sealed top spot in Group E en route to the Copa Libertadores last 16, while defending champions River Plate salvaged a last-gasp draw on matchday six.
Santiago Arzamendia scored in Tuesday's 1-1 draw away to Uruguayan hosts Nacional as Cerro Porteno topped the group on goal difference.
Arzamendia opened the scoring with a stunning free-kick on the stroke of half-time in Montevideo but the Paraguayan visitors were pegged back after the break.
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Rodrigo Amaral restored parity on the hour-mark with a sensational set-piece of his own to ensure both teams finished on 13 points, though Cerro Porteno topped Group E due to their superior goal difference.
Santiago Arzamendia showed his talent with this brilliant free-kick to put @CCP1912oficial in front.#CONMEBOLLibertadores pic.twitter.com/zWpUIsZXbt— CONMEBOL Libertadores (@TheLibertadores) May 8, 2019
Elsewhere in the group, Atletico Mineiro earned a spot in the Copa Sudamericana thanks to a 2-1 win over Zamora as they finished third.
Not to be outdone, @Nacional's Rodrigo Amaral pulled his side even with this brilliant strike!#CONMEBOLLibertadores pic.twitter.com/PVipHstvQq— CONMEBOL Libertadores (@TheLibertadores) May 8, 2019
Meanwhile, Lucas Pratto's 93rd-minute equaliser saw River earn a 2-2 draw at home to Internacional in Group A.
Already assured of a spot in the knockout round, second-placed River avoided defeat in their final group game with the leaders.
Two goals in the space of 15 minutes from Rafael Sobis cancelled out Julian Alvarez's first-half opener for River in Buenos Aires.
Rafael Sóbis struck from distance for his first goal of the night in @SCInternacional's eventual 2-2 draw with @CARPoficial.#CONMEBOLLibertadores pic.twitter.com/5qRte4c1pI— CONMEBOL Libertadores (@TheLibertadores) May 8, 2019
But Pratto equalised in the third minute of stoppage time after Internacional goalkeeper Marcelo Lomba made a meal of a cross.
Alianza Lima ended their Group A campaign winless with just one point following a 2-1 defeat at home to Palestino.
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