Nacional Defeats Deportivo Táchira 2-1 in Copa Libertadores First Leg

Nacional of Uruguay secured a 2-1 victory over Deportivo Táchira of Venezuela in the first leg of their Copa Libertadores match at the Gran Parque Central stadium in Montevideo on April 25, 2024. The home team took an early lead with goals from Alexis Castro in the 14th minute and Jeremía Recoba in the 21st minute.

However, Táchira fought back and pulled one goal back in the 29th minute through a header by Haibrany Ruiz Díaz. Despite Táchira dominating the game for the last 60 minutes and creating several chances, they were unable to find an equalizer. The match ended with Nacional winning 2-1 at home.

The win puts Nacional in a strong position in Group H, moving up to second place with 6 points from their first three matches. Táchira, on the other hand, remains winless at the bottom of the group after suffering their third consecutive defeat.

Nacional manager Álvaro Recoba set up his team in a 4-2-3-1 formation, while Táchira's Eduardo Saragó opted for a more defensive 5-4-1 setup. The match saw several substitutions, with players like Zabala, Ebere, Bentancourt, and González coming on for Nacional, and Chacón, Calzadilla, Hernández, and Sosa being introduced for the visitors.

Why this matters: The Copa Libertadores is South America's premier club football tournament, and advancing to the knockout stages is a major achievement. Nacional's win puts them in a favorable position to reach the round of 16, while Táchira faces an uphill battle to avoid elimination.

Nacional forward Ruben Bentancourt, who has scored two goals in the Libertadores this season, expressed his satisfaction with the result. "It was a tough match, but we managed to get the victory at home. Now we need to focus on the second leg and try to finish the job in Venezuela," he said. The second leg will take place at Deportivo Táchira's home ground, the Polideportivo de Pueblo Nuevo, on May 9, 2024.

Key Takeaways

• Nacional defeated Deportivo Táchira 2-1 in the first leg of their Copa Libertadores match.
• Nacional took an early 2-0 lead, but Táchira scored one goal in the 29th minute.
• Nacional's win puts them in second place in Group H with 6 points, while Táchira remains winless.
• The second leg will be played at Táchira's home ground on May 9, 2024.
• Advancing to the Copa Libertadores knockout stage is a major achievement for Nacional.