Nacional win classic
Juan Sebastian Vargas scored an injury-time winner as Nacional beat top of the table Cerro Porteño 4-3 in a thriller in the Paraguay Primera Division.
🗓Fecha 9️⃣
📸Postales del triunfo ante el equipo #Azulgrana#NACIONAL 4 🆚 3 Cerro Porteño
🔹️Goles: Danilo Santacruz, Carlos Arrúa, Leonardo Villagra y Sebastían Vargas#VamosNacional 🔴⚪🔵#LaAcademia 💪🏻 pic.twitter.com/BwSYpV4ru0— Club Nacional Py (@clubnacionalpy) December 8, 2020
The first defeat of the season for Cerro Porteño’s means that their lead at the top was reduced to just one point, ahead of Nacional.
Nacional are unbeaten in nine matches this season with four wins and five draws.
First half
It was a see-saw of a game with both sides having a man sent off. The hosts went ahead in the 18th minute as Danilo Santacruz scored from the penalty spot.
Jose Ortigoza equalised just seven minutes later, nipping in front of the defender to score from close range after Claudio Aquino’s marauding run and cross down the left-hand side.
The visitors were reduced to ten men in the 41st minute as a stamp by Alan Rodriguez was reviewed by the referee at the VAR monitor.
Carlos Arrua then gave Nacional ahead four minutes later. He made a run into the box after finding Santacruz, who then played a lofted pass into his path and the midfielder whilst on the ground – managed to hold off a defender and lift the ball over the goalkeeper.
However, late into first-half stoppage time, Cerro Porteño got back on level terms. After a neat exchange of passes involving Angel Cardozo Lucena and Claudio Aquino, Oscar Ruiz found some space on the edge of the area and struck a powerful shot into the far corner.
Second half
Leonardo Villagra restored the hosts’ lead four minutes after half-time. He got in behind the Porteño defence after a incisive pass in his own half by Edgardo Orzuza and rounded the keeper to score.
But for the third time in the match, the champions levelled. Lucena arrowed an unstoppable shot into the top corner from 25 yards out that left the keeper with no chance.
G O L A Z O del @pika8lucena ⚽️⚡️#SomosPueblo 🔵🔴 pic.twitter.com/DRfBoVMqD5
— Club Cerro Porteño (@CCP1912oficial) December 8, 2020
With just under 10 minutes remaining, Nacional midfielder Carlos Arrua was sent off for a reckless lunge.
With the scores level and the match seemingly ending with the points shared, Nacional substitute Juan Sebastian Vargas found space in the box to steer a header into the net from a Christian Riveros cross in the 94th minute.
De cabeza, Sebastián Vargas anotó el gol de la victoria para #Nacional. pic.twitter.com/dIL2UcBK7b
— Tigo Sports (@TigoSportsPY) December 8, 2020
Fixtures
Nacional travel to second bottom River Plate, while Cerro Porteño hope to respond when they face Sportivo San Lorenzo.
Featured image: Credit: Club Nacional
