Liga de Quito Triumphs Over Universitario to Secure Sudamericana Playoff Spot

In a decisive match in Group D of the Copa Libertadores 2024, Liga de Quito (LDU) defeated Universitario 2-0, securing a spot in the Copa Sudamericana playoffs. This victory came on May 28, 2024, at the Rodrigo Paz Delgado stadium in Quito, Ecuador.

Paraguayan Alex Arce opened the scoring in the 44th minute with a powerful header, giving Liga de Quito a vital lead. The Ecuadorian team's dominance continued into the second half, with Argentine Lisandro Alzugaray doubling the advantage in the 67th minute.

Liga de Quito's victory was not just a win on the field but also a significant milestone, as it secured their advancement to the < a href="https://www.la-razon.com/marcas/2024/05/29/liga-de-quito-defendera-su-titulo-en-la-sudamericana-tras-vencer-2-0-a-universitario/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sudamericana playoffs. The team finished third in Group D with seven points, allowing them to defend their title being the current champions of the Copa Sudamericana.

The match saw Universitario struggling to break through Liga de Quito's solid defense. Specifically, Universitario's Edison Flores and Matías Benedetto posed threats with a shot and a header, respectively, before Arce's goal. However, their efforts were thwarted, and the Peruvian team could not find the back of the net.

In the other Group D match, Junior and Botafogo played to a 0-0 draw, ensuring both teams advanced to the Libertadores round of 16. Junior topped the group with a better goal difference, while Botafogo secured second place, both finishing with 11 points.

The match was not without controversy, as Liga de Quito's Michael Estrada had a goal disallowed in the 65th minute because of an offside position. However, the team quickly regrouped and scored again two minutes later, securing their victory.

Universitario, led by coach Fabián Bustos, faced difficulties in mounting an effective attack throughout the match. Their frustrations culminated in the 83rd minute when Christofer Gonzales was sent off after receiving two yellow cards for a foul on José Quintero.

Liga de Quito's fans celebrated the victory, which marked their fourth attempt to secure a spot in the Sudamericana playoffs. The team's official Twitter account posted: "¡LDU_Oficial jugará el Playoffs de octavos de final de la CONMEBOL Sudamericana! El último campeón defiende su título." ("LDU will play in the Sudamericana playoffs! The last champion defends its title.")

As Liga de Quito prepares for the Sudamericana playoffs, the team aims to build on their recent success and defend their title. Meanwhile, Junior and Botafogo look forward to their upcoming matches in the Libertadores round of 16.

Key Takeaways

• Liga de Quito defeats Universitario 2-0, securing a spot in Copa Sudamericana playoffs.
• Alex Arce and Lisandro Alzugaray score for Liga de Quito in the 44th and 67th minutes.
• Liga de Quito finishes third in Group D with 7 points, defending their Copa Sudamericana title.
• Junior and Botafogo draw 0-0, advancing to Libertadores round of 16.
• Liga de Quito prepares to defend their title in the Sudamericana playoffs.