Junior de Barranquilla was eliminated from the Copa Libertadores on Thursday after a 1-0 loss to Cerro Porteño at the estadio Jaime Morón de Cartagena. Pablo Vegetti decided the match in the 13th minute with a powerful volley from outside the area that left Mauro Silveira beaten.
The result left Junior with one point from twelve possible in Group F after the fourth round, a return that made the task impossible on a night when the crowd’s frustration turned public. Fans chanted “movete, Junior, movete” as the team labored to respond, and the match was stopped in the second half because smoke from flares lit in the stands drifted over the field.
Junior also briefly thought it had found a way back when it celebrated a goal that was later disallowed for offside. Carlos Bacca came on as a substitute as the club tried to add more attacking weight, but the change did not alter the outcome.
The Group F picture grew more severe for Junior after the defeat, while the fight for the second qualifying spot intensified between Sporting Cristal and Cerro Porteño. Palmeiras beat Sporting Cristal 2-0 in Lima with goals from José Manuel López and Ramón Sosa, and moved to 10 points to become the lone leader of the group, close to securing a place in the round of 16. Sporting Cristal stayed one point behind Cerro Porteño after the fourth round, leaving Junior bottom and out.