Olimpia took a giant step toward the Copa Libertadores trophy in Asuncion on Wednesday with a 2-0 first-leg victory in the first-leg of the competition’s final series. AlejandroSilva gave the Paraguayan giant the lead in the 22nd-minute with a shot from the edge of the box, before Wilson Pittoni made it 2-0 with a free kick in third minute ofstoppage time.
Atletico was forced to play the last few minutes of the game with ten men after Richarlyson received a second yellow card, but the biggest disappointment for the away teamwas the performance of Ronaldinho, who was withdrawn just after the hour mark. “He wasn’t good, He wasn’t playing well and he’s a player like any other,” Atletico coachCuca said about Ronaldinho, who glared disapprovingly at the substitution.
Atletico will now be hoping it can overturn another two-goal deficit to win the tournament, justas the Belo Horizonte club did against Newell’s Old Boys in the semifinal, where it advanced on penalties after tying the series 2-2.