New Apertura season kicks off
The new Apertura season kicked off with a bang as Clausura champions Olimpia were beaten 1-0 in their opening game by rivals Libertad.
Striker Oscar Cardozo blasted a penalty into the corner in the 12th minute to score the only goal of the game and kick Libertad’s season off to a flier.
FInal!
Olimpia 0-1 #Libertad
⚽️ Oscar Tacuara Cardozo#AperturaAPF2021#VamosGUMA pic.twitter.com/w5g1fZYz5E— Club Libertad (@Libertad_Guma) February 7, 2021
The visitors nearly doubled their lead shortly after when a surging run by Rodrigo Bogarin ended in a curling effort that hit the outside of the shot.
Olimpia were reduced to long-range efforts but also hit the woodwork in the first half. Edwar Lopez’s powerful free kick struck the top of the bar.
Entertaining draw
Guarani and Nacional have both played two games and have taken four points from six. They faced each other on the opening weekend and drew 2-2 in an eventful match that saw both sides have a man sent off.
The match
David Fleitas bundled the ball home to give Nacional the lead in the 47th minute. Three minutes later, Jose Florentin equalised with a precise header into the bottom corner.
Goalkeeper Gaspar Servio sensationally stepped up to score from the penalty spot to put the hosts ahead in the 55th minute.
However, things took a turn for the worse for the hosts when Nicolas Mana was sent off for a terribly late and reckless challenge on Sebastian Vargas.
This allowed the visitors to capitalise on having an extra man, and they instantly did when Leandro Villagra tapped in after his header was saved at point-blank range by the goalkeeper.
Claudio Nunez was dismissed for Nacional in the 89th minute as both teams finished with 10 men.
Strong starts
Both sides registered their first win of the season this midweek. Nacional once again went down to 10 men but edged past Sol de America with another goal from David Fleitas.
🗓Fecha 2#NACIONAL 1 🆚 0 Sol de América
Gol: David Fleitas#VamosNacional ⚽️🙋🏻♂️#LaAcademia 🔴⚪🔵 pic.twitter.com/eTIL8RdE3o— Club Nacional Py (@clubnacionalpy) February 10, 2021
His thunderous effort from distance found the bottom corner. Wilson Ayala was sent off for two bookable offences.
Guarani were more convincing and hammered River Plate Asuncion 4-1 with a brace from Fernando Fernandez and one each from Jose Florentin and Jorge Valdes Chamorro.
¡Final del partido!#River 1-4 #Guaraní
Goles Aurinegros de José Florentín, Fernando Fernández (2) y Jorge Valdez Chamorro#VamosAborigen! 💛🖤 pic.twitter.com/iKkkxPG39M— Club Guarani (@ClubGuarani) February 9, 2021
