Newell’s Old Boys left it until the last 20 seconds of injury-time to claim an opening day win in the CONMEBOL Copa Sudamericana against Chilean opposition Audax Italiano.
At the El Teniente stadium in Rancagua, La Lepra dominated possession throughout but found it hard to create chances while Audax went closest to scoring in the first-half, but for the strong hands and quick agility of Lucas Hoyos.
Hoyos’ opposing goalkeeper Tomás Ahumada also held the fort for the home side and had to make a point-blank range stop from Willer Ditta’s header in the second-half to keep the contest scoreless.
It looked like it would end without a goal until Brian Aguirre, the best player on the pitch, collected Ramiro Sordo’s low pass in the 93rd minute of the match and fired a low shot past Ahumada much to the delight of the travelling Newell’s contingent.
Three points in Chile is the ideal injection of positivity that the players need ahead of Sunday’s Clásico Rosarino against Rosario Central; just the second Clásico to be played at the Estadio Marcelo Bielsa since 2019.
Watch the highlights of the match below.
