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.

Updated on: 15 April 2026 4:19 pm

Published at: 15 April 2026 4:19 pm

Copa Libertadores Soccer: Cerro Porteño vs Colombia Junior

Marcelo Chaparro of Paraguay's Cerro Porteño, center, celebrates after defeating Colombia's Junior during a Copa Libertadores Group F soccer match in Asuncion, Paraguay. | Photo: AP/Jorge Saenz

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Copa Libertadores Soccer: Colombia Junior vs Cerro Porteño

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

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CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores 2026: Cerro Porteño vs Colombia Junior

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

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CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores 2026: Colombia Junior vs Cerro Porteño

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

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Copa Libertadores Soccer Match: Cerro Porteño vs Colombia Junior

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

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Copa Libertadores Soccer Match: Colombia Junior vs Cerro Porteño

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

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Paraguay Colombia Copa Libertadores Soccer

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

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Colombia Paraguay Copa Libertadores Soccer

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

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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

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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