Eight teams remain in the competition… and defending champions Vitoria are not one of them
Copa Libertadores de Fútbol Playa 2019, taking place in the World Cup stadium in Asunción, Paraguay, is ready for the quarter-finals battle, after the groups stage ended yesterday. The best eight teams remain in competition, and after today’s rest day will combat tomorrow for a place in the semi-finals.
One of the biggest surprises in the competition has been defending champions EC Vitoria being knocked out in the group phase, finishing in last position of group A. Venezuela’s champions Fundación Monagas BS, reigned supreme in the standings, followed by Argentina’s CA Acassuso, with equal points and Colombian champs Guaviare BS, who also progressed onto next round as one of the two best third-ranked sides.
The main favourites played their role in Group B, with two-times champions Vasco da Gama and Paraguayan champions Cerro Porteño sealing the two top spots to access the next round. Academia Tito Drago upset the Uruguayan champions Racing Club for the third place, but their records did not allow them progress onto quarter-finals.
In group C, Chilean Champions Club Deportivo Iquique topped the table, with a perfect 3-out-of-3 wins record. Their next opponent in the fight for semi-finals will be Argentinean champions Club Atletico Acassuso.
San Bernardino as the runners-up of the group and Bolivia’s Hamacas FC, as one of the best third-ranked side, also progressed to the quarterfinals, where they will take on Cerro Porteño (PAR) and the powerful Vasco da Gama, two times Copa Libertadores champions.
The schedule for tomorrow’s quarter-finals goes as follows:
4:00pm – Fund. Monagas (VEN) vs Guaviare BS (COL)
5:30pm – Vasco da Gama (BRA) vs Hamacas FC (BOL)
7:00pm – Deportivo Iquique (CHI) vs CA Acassuso (ARG)
8:30 pm – Cerro Porteño (PAR) vs San Bernardino (PAR)
