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00:00Ecuador, it's El Nacional versus Barcelona of Guayaquil, an all-Ecuador affair in the second phase of qualification in the 2025 Universal.
00:13As I'm Joel Richards, your commentator this evening, an early mistake at the back from Barcelona affords an early throw in then for El Nacional,
00:23who, as the home side, will very much look to impose themselves this evening.
00:31What we saw in the first phase against Blooming of Bolivia, not many errors, a dismal first half.
00:41The team from Argentina that won the 1994 Libertadores and indeed the Intercontinental, it was Omar Assad's goal against Milan that gave them the victory.
00:51There's an early shot, early side of goal for Barcelona.
00:55Luis Hermano, tied up by Leonay.
01:04Another charging run there from Corozo, that's going to be an early yellow card, no doubt whatsoever on Corozo.
01:11Yep, little else on.
01:12That shot there, as this one is, is Rivero looking to lead the line, number nine now.
01:22He's all alone, he's got Corozo, he's looking to link up with Corozo, he's still with Corozo.
01:26Excellent block in defence, the attack's still on, it's Orjola, it's a decent shot on goal, and it's an excellent save by David Coesas.
01:33And we mentioned that trio of Orjola on the right-hand side with that left foot, though, in their favour next week.
01:47Here's Chalá, manages to put it in the mix.
01:51Oh, it comes to the volley for Serrachos, what an opportunity it was.
01:55Chalá did really well just to find it back, find the space to put it back in the middle, it was Garjardo in the end with the shot.
02:15It's a lovely ball for Corozo, important intervention by Bedoja.
02:25And he knows it, Coesas knows it, Carragheri knows it.
02:30What a pass, and Bedoja does just enough to put Corozo off.
02:40The captain of Barcelona, Rivera, nicely done by Barcelona.
02:53Here's Corozo in another excellent position, it's Corozo!
02:56Oh, hits the side netting.
03:03Very simple.
03:06It's debatable as well.
03:08You wonder with, again, just that Leesman and Martínez have not had much to feed off.
03:16Here is Martínez, who's brought down, and he's in a position from where it could well be a chance for attacking, as says Arroso.
03:28Santiago Alavar for that challenge on Olmedo.
03:31The Nacional.
03:35And that is the end of proceedings here at the Estadio Atahualpa in Quito, Ecuador.
03:41Nil-nil after 45 minutes of play.
03:44Teams that know each other very well tend to tense up the games during the first half, and of course, eventually.
03:51Someone will have to risk something over the next three halves that are left in this Leg 1 and Leg 2 series for now.
03:58Once again, my name is Joel Richards, and I'm the match commentator this evening in this match between the Nacional and Barcelona of Guayaquil at the Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa in Quito, Ecuador.
04:13A real favourite at this juncture, certainly from what we've seen.
04:21Barcelona, arguably, the side with more tradition, more supporter base.
04:30Count right now.
04:34Lovely skill from Fidel Martinez, and Guizemano is on the chase.
04:39It's Guizemano, it's Guizemano, still Guizemano.
04:43Brilliant defending in the end by Gustavo Vallecilla.
04:47All stems from poor use of the set piece by Barcelona.
04:53Guizemano just, Pineda does enough.
04:57Pineda does enough to put him off.
05:00Hustle him, push him wide as well.
05:03You see that excellent bite.
05:05As you see, that's it.
05:09Unable to keep it.
05:11Ball for El Nacional, here comes Mojola.
05:15Lovely pass for Rivero.
05:17It's Rivero!
05:20Good shot.
05:24Lovely pass from Mojola.
05:29He needs to get it, he's not getting the bodies.
05:32Players close enough to each other to run and truly try and make something happen.
05:40Here come Martinez, however, maybe this is the opportunity for them.
05:45Mojola and Guizemano have swapped once again.
05:50We'll just see the replay here.
05:53Simple stuff, this is what we're talking about.
05:56It's a simple ball over.
05:58Over the defence for Martinez to latch on to.
06:05Barcelona taking their time whenever they get the opportunity.
06:10And Carrizos is booked now.
06:20It's for that challenge on the forward.
06:22No goals at Libertadores in 12 appearances though.
06:27Looking to change that here.
06:31Better from El Nacional.
06:34More direct.
06:37And it's the first time
06:39that kind of delivery into that kind of area in the box that...
06:45In the heart of midfield it will be up to Quinones now and Anderson and Rojo.
06:49As Valiente will be given more of a licence to get forward.
06:54Good work by Brian Castillo.
06:56Top sides in Ecuadorian football.
07:01Here goes Brian Castillo.
07:03Castillo.
07:06Does excellently well to win this and to win a free kick.
07:09And that will be a yellow card for Jose Flor.
07:13That tackle on Castillo.
07:15Just looks up to make sure.
07:25Excellent pace from Castillo.
07:27Just leaves this set piece to be taken by Joaquin Valiente for Barcelona.
07:31This is a dangerous position.
07:33Driven in.
07:34Ribeiro gets on the end of it.
07:36And it's in the back of the net for Barcelona who take the lead.
07:43Valiente celebrating.
07:45We need to see the replay to see that there's a faintest of touch on the way through.
08:01There's a check for VAR here.
08:11Who comes off.
08:13It's Valiente getting all the credit.
08:17Definitely takes it.
08:18Can people stay up with it?
08:30Keep up with him.
08:31Ribeiro is in the middle.
08:32Castillo.
08:33Not a bad ball for Ribeiro.
08:35Who's left.
08:36Put it back in the middle.
08:37Quiñones.
08:38Taken in the flexes.
08:39Heroic stuff by Flor.
08:42Border cut.
08:45Delivery from the set piece.
08:46Let him down.
08:47Can he provide something better here?
08:49Guzmano with a bit of space now.
08:51Cifuente.
08:52Border cut.
08:53Guzmano.
08:54Better from El Nacional.
09:04Really have a great deal of service.
09:05The Uruguayan.
09:12Lovely.
09:13That's Pasminho.
09:14One opportunity for El Nacional to draw level.
09:19This is the kind of play that we just haven't seen.
09:24From El Nacional.
09:25It's lovely from Cifuente.
09:31That is the end of the action here at the Estadio Olimpico Atahualpa.
09:36Well, they go and steal the win.
09:391-0 for Barcelona de Guayaquil.
09:43Let's see what they can do at home next week.
09:46El Nacional has to be frustrated.
09:48They just couldn't get anything going.
09:50Any threat to the Barcelona goal.
09:53Well-guarded in what was needed.
09:55Of Jose Contreras today, but really wasn't.