Cerro Porteno 1-0 Atletico Junior, Copa Libertadores: Paraguayan Champions Tame Defiant Sharks In Asuncion
Days after suffering a 1-0 defeat against Sporting Cristal in the Peruvian capital Lima, Paraguayan champions Cerro Porteno registered a fighting win over Atletico Junior of Colombia on match day 2 of the CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores 2026. In a cagey Group F match at Estadio General Pablo Rojas, Asuncion, Argentine forward Jonathan Torres's 57th-minute goal proved decisive. Sporting Cristal, meanwhile, will visit Sao Paulo to take on Brazilian giants Palmeiras on April 16. Palmeiras, the three-time champions, were held to a 1-1 draw by Junior on matchday 1. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Round of 16 in the Copa Libertadores, South America's top club football tournament.
Brayan Castrillon of Colombia's Junior, front, fights for the ball with goalkeeper Alexis Martin of Paraguay's Cerro Porteño during a Copa Libertadores Group F soccer match in Asuncion, Paraguay. | Photo: AP/Jorge Saenz
Jesus Rivas of Colombia's Junior, center, fights for the ball with Victor Velazquez, top, and Brian Luciatti of Paraguay's Cerro Porteño during a Copa Libertadores Group F soccer match in Asuncion, Paraguay. | Photo: AP/Jorge Saenz
Marcelo Chaparro of Paraguay's Cerro Porteño celebrates after his teammate Jonatan Torres scored their side's opening goal against Colombia's Junior during a Copa Libertadores Group F soccer match in Asuncion, Paraguay. | Photo: AP/Jorge Saenz
Pablo Vegetti of Paraguay's Cerro Porteño, left, and Jermein Pena of Colombia's Junior struggle for the ball during a Copa Libertadores Group F soccer match in Asuncion, Paraguay. | Photo: AP/Jorge Saenz
Brian Luciatti of Paraguay's Cerro Porteño, left, and Jesus Rivas of Colombia's Junior battle for the ball during a Copa Libertadores Group F soccer match in Asuncion, Paraguay. | Photo: AP/Jorge Saenz
Jonatan Torres of Paraguay's Cerro Porteño, left, and Jermein Pena of Colombia's Junior go for a header during a Copa Libertadores soccer match in Asuncion, Paraguay. | Photo: AP/Jorge Saenz
Angel Benitez of Paraguay's Cerro Porteño, left, and Kevin Perez of Colombia's Junior vie for the ball during a Copa Libertadores soccer match in Asuncion, Paraguay. | Photo: AP/Jorge Saenz
Jorge Morel of Paraguay's Cerro Porteño, left, and Jesus Rivas of Colombia's Junior fight for the ball during a Copa Libertadores Group F soccer match in Asuncion, Paraguay. | Photo: AP/Jorge Saenz
Pablo Vegetti of Paraguay's Cerro Porteño, on the ground, falls as he vies for the ball with Juan Rios of Colombia's Junior, right, during a Copa Libertadores Group F soccer match soccer match in Asuncion, Paraguay. | Photo: AP/Jorge Saenz
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