Yuri Alberto goal takes Inter closer to a round of 16 spot in the Libertadores

A late goal separated Internacional from Olimpia, at the Manuel Ferreira Stadium, on Thursday, keeping their hopes of qualifying past the group stage into the round of 16 well alive. Substitute Yuri Alberto was brought on in the 58th minute and scored in the 83rd minutes, before he was given his second yellow card seven […]
2021-05-20 01:00:47

A late goal separated Internacional from Olimpia, at the Manuel Ferreira Stadium, on Thursday, keeping their hopes of qualifying past the group stage into the round of 16 well alive.

Substitute Yuri Alberto was brought on in the 58th minute and scored in the 83rd minutes, before he was given his second yellow card seven minutes later and was sent off. Salcedo also received his second yellow card and was sent off in the 66th minute.

Inter dominated play in the first half with 72% of ball possession. However, they failed to find the mark and get something out of their dominance.

After the break, Miguel Ramirez made two changes to his side, he brought on Yuri Alberto and Mauricio in the place of Thiago Galhardo and Palacios.

The substitution was spot on, as the visitors started to create more spaces to fond the back of the net. The forward drew a dangerous foul from Salcedo, which got the Paraguayan defender to be expelled, after collecting his second yellow card of the evening.

With ten men, the hosts became vulnerable, allowing Yuri to find spaces in the middle to put his shot out.

The Brazilian striker later got his goal after several missed attempt, assisted by Marcos Guilherme to break the deadlock in the 83rd minutes. The goal gave Olimpia the courage to push forward, which got Yuri Alberto his second yellow card, making his overall performance bittersweet, after giving his side the winning goal.

Inter are first on the table in Group B, but are not yet mathematically advanced to the round of 16. They are level on points with Deportivo Táchira, but are ahead due to goal difference and are three points above Always Ready and Olimpia.

They will host Always Ready in the last round, hoping to qualify, while Olimpia faces Deportivo Táchira. Both games will be played on Wednesday next week.