El Atlético Junior recibió este jueves en Barranquilla al Olimpia paraguayo en la vuelta de la fase 2 de la Copa Libertadores con la meta de remontar el 1-0 de la ida. Inicialmente, los tiburones necesitaban ganar por más de un gol de diferencia para avanzar a la siguiente ronda del torneo.
Sin embargo, un gol antes de concluir la primera mitad –de Néstor Camacho al minuto 44– obligó al Junior –que ya ganaba por un gol de Yony González al minuto 30– a buscar más anotaciones.
Aunque al principio del segundo tiempo el onceno atlanticense no encontraba el camino de la victoria, Luis Carlos Ruiz, un viejo conocido de la afición barranquillera y que regresó esta temporada a casa, logró el tanto al minuto 58 para poner el 2-1.
Aún así, los tiburones necesitaban un gol más para clasificarse porque la anotación del Olimpia en Barranquilla le daba cierta prerrogativa para acceder a la tercera ronda del torneo continental.
Fue así entonces como el Junior presionó y a través de Teófilo Gutiérrez logró al minuto 75, tras una impecable combinación con Ruiz ,la anotación de la clasificación.
Olimpia, entre tanto, no logró su objetivo pese a ser comandado por el experimentado goleador Roque Santa Cruz y los colombianos Farid Díaz, Sergio Otálvaro y Mauricio Cuero, quienes tuvieron un notable rendimiento en el partido de ida jugado la semana pasada en Asunción.
Ahora el Junior, ganador de la serie, se enfrentará al Guaraní paraguayo, que goleó el pasado martes por 6-0 al Carabobo venezolano y aseguró su clasificación.
Estas son las mejores imágenes de la épica remontada:
Colombian Junior midfielder Yony Gonzalez celebrates after scoring against Paraguay's Olimpia during their Copa Libertadores football match at Roberto Melendez stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia, on February 8, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Luis ACOSTA
Colombian Junior midfielder Yony Gonzalez (C-L) scores a goal against Paraguay's Olimpia during their Copa Libertadores football match at Roberto Melendez stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia, on February 8, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Luis ACOSTAParaguayan Olimpia forward Roque Santa Cruz (L) jumps for a header with defender Juan Patino during their Copa Libertadores football match against Colombia's Junior at Roberto Melendez stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia, on February 8, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Luis ACOSTAParaguay's Olimpia midfielder Santiago Rosales (R) of Argentina vies for the ball with Colombian Junior defender Rafael Perez during their Copa Libertadores football match at Roberto Melendez stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia, on February 8, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Luis ACOSTA
Colombia's Junior members pose for the picture before the start of their Copa Libertadores football match against Paraguay's Olimpia at Roberto Melendez stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia, on February 8, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Luis ACOSTASupporters of Colombia's Junior cheer for their team before a Copa Libertadores football match against Paraguay's Olimpia at Roberto Melendez stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia, on February 8, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Luis ACOSTAA supporter of Colombia's Junior cheers for his team before a Copa Libertadores football match against Paraguay's Olimpia at Roberto Melendez stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia, on February 8, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Luis ACOSTA
Supporters of Colombia's Junior cheer for their team before a Copa Libertadores football match against Paraguay's Olimpia at Roberto Melendez stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia, on February 8, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Luis ACOSTAA Nike Ordem, the official ball of the Copa Libertadores, is photographed prior to a football match between Colombia's Junior and Paraguay's Olimpia at Roberto Melendez stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia, on February 8, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Luis ACOSTAColombian Junior forward Yimmi Chara (L) vies for the ball with Paraguayan Olimpia midfielder Richard Sanchez during their Copa Libertadores football match at Roberto Melendez stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia, on February 8, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Luis ACOSTA
Paraguayan Olimpia defender, Colombian Farid Diaz controls the ball during their Copa Libertadores football match against Colombia's Junior at Roberto Melendez stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia, on February 8, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Luis ACOSTAColombian Junior defender Marlon Piedrahita celebrates a goal over Paraguay's Olimpia during their Copa Libertadores football match against at Roberto Melendez stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia, on February 8, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Luis ACOSTAColombian Junior forward Teofilo Gutierrez celebrates his goal against Paraguay's Olimpia during Copa Libertadores football match at Roberto Melendez stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia, on February 8, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Luis ACOSTA
Colombian Junior forward Teofilo Gutierrez (C) celebrates with his teammates after scoring against Paraguay's Olimpia during their Copa Libertadores football match at Roberto Melendez stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia, on February 8, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Luis ACOSTAColombian Junior forward Teofilo Gutierrez (L) celebrates with his teammates after scoring against Paraguay's Olimpia during their Copa Libertadores football match at Roberto Melendez stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia, on February 8, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Luis ACOSTAParaguayan Olimpia midfielder Orlando Gaona reacts at the end Copa Libertadores football match against Colombia´s Junior at Roberto Melendez stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia, on February 8, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Luis ACOSTAColombian Junior coach Alexis Mendoza (C) celebrates their victory over Paraguay's Olimpia during Copa Libertadores football match at Roberto Melendez stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia, on February 8, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Luis ACOSTA
