Central Córdoba took a significant step towards securing one of the two spots in Group C for the knockout stages of the Copa Libertadores. The Argentine team defeated Deportivo Táchira 2-1 on Tuesday night at the Polideportivo Pueblo Nuevo Stadium in San Cristóbal, Venezuela. Goals were scored by Galván and Verón for Central Córdoba, while Bryan Castillo found the net for the Venezuelan hosts.
With this result, Central Córdoba now holds 11 points in Group C and only needs to earn one point from their final match against LDU to guarantee their progression, independent of other results. On the contrary, Deportivo Táchira has been eliminated from the tournament without any points.
As the competition unfolds, Flamengo, currently with five points, must win their next two matches at the Maracanã—against LDU Quito on Thursday and against Táchira on the 28th—to reach 11 points. They also need to hope that LDU does not win against Central Córdoba in their final match in Quito. A draw for Flamengo on Thursday complicates their chances, as they would need to not only defeat Táchira but also rely on specific scorelines involving Córdoba and LDU to advance via goal difference.
Two teams with the best standings in each group will advance to the knockout stages of the Libertadores, while the third-placed team will compete for a berth in the Copa Sudamericana. The tie-breaking criteria in the event of points being equal include goal difference, goals scored, and goals scored away from home.
The match against Táchira highlighted the Venezuelan team’s struggles, particularly when they went down to ten men early on due to a handball by defender Tamiche, which resulted in a red card after VAR review. Central Córdoba capitalized on their numerical advantage, scoring first through Galván. Although Táchira managed an equalizer, Verón quickly restored the lead for Central Córdoba.
Looking ahead, Central Córdoba’s next commitment is against LDU Quito in the final group stage match on May 28 in Ecuador, while Deportivo Táchira will shift their focus back to the Venezuelan Championship, where they will face Carabobo this coming Saturday.
As the tournament progresses, the situation remains dynamic with potential for surprises, and it’s an exciting time for fans as teams vie for advancement.