Fortaleza disappoints at the end, defeats Deportivo Maldonado and advances in the Pre-Libertadores

Yet another Brazilian club secured its advancement in the pre-liberators this Thursday, when the Fortaleza defeated Deportivo Maldonado, from Uruguay. At Castelão, the people from Ceará balanced with Thiago Galhardo, Lucero (2) and Guilherme and won the return game by 4-0 and advanced in search of a place in the continental competition.

Fortaleza’s next challenge in the pre-Libertadores will be against Cerro Porteño. The Paraguayans eliminated El Nacional, from Ecuador, in the last round. In case they win the confrontation of two games, the cearenses guarantee the vacancy in the liberators of 2023.

Before that, Fortaleza will have another important duel. On Sunday, at 6:30 pm (Brasília time), the team will have the derby against Cearáfor the sixth round of Northeast Cup. In the competition, Leão is the leader of Group A, with 15 points.

FIIIIIIIM OF CHAT IN THE CASTELÃO ARENA! LAION BEATS MALDONADO 4-0 AND IS QUALIFIED FOR THE NEXT PHASE OF CONMEBOL LIBERTADORES! 🦁

⚽️ @tgalhardo7
⚽️ Lucero
⚽️ William
⚽️ Lucero#FortalezaEC #Liberators pic.twitter.com/2PxfpF8wyA

— Fortaleza Esporte Clube 🦁 (@FortalezaEC) March 3, 2023

The goals of the game

Fortaleza’s first goal came in the first half stoppage time. At the 49th minute, Hércules received it at the entrance to the area and crossed to the second post. Striker Thiago Galhardo appeared at the back of the defense and threw himself on the ball to deflect it towards the goal.

In the final stretch, the hosts were disenchanted. At 37, Tinga launched for Dudu, who, from the bottom line, played to the middle. From inside the small area, Lucero managed to touch the goal, even though he was unbalanced. With 41 minutes it was Guilherme’s turn to receive the ball at the entrance to the area and dropped a bomb in the lower left corner.

At 46, Lucero scored again and concluded the rout. The attacker was thrown between the defenders and watched the opposing goalkeeper leave. Very calmly, he tamed, spun and touched down over the archer.

DATASHEET
FORTRESS 4 X 0 DEPORTIVO MALDONADO

Local: Arena Castelão, in Fortaleza (CE)
Data: March 2, 2023 (Thursday)
Time: 21:00 (from Brasilia)
Referee: Jesus Valenzuela Saez (VEN)
Assistants: Jorge Urrego Martinez (VEN) and Tulio Enrique Moreno (VEN)
WAS: Carlos Orbe Ruiz (EQU)

Yellow cards: Titi and Marcelo Benevenuto (Fortaleza)

goals: Thiago Galhardo, Lucero (2) and Guilherme (Fortaleza)

FORTALEZA: Fernando Miguel; Tinga, Benevenuto, Titi and Bruno Pacheco; Carlo Alexandre, Hercules (Lucas Sasha) and Caleb (Guilherme); Pochettino (zé Welison), Romarinho (Dudu) and Thiago Galhardo (Lucero)
Technician: John Paul Vojvoda

SPORTS MALDONADO: William Kings; Angel Cayetano, Martin Ferreira, Robert Herrera, Fernando Alfaro (Thomas Fernandez) and William Cotugno; Facundo Piriz, Nicolas Queiroz and Matthias Tellechea (Rodrigo Muniz); Hernan Toledo, Claudio Spinelli (Enzo Borges)
Technician: Fabian Coitus