Even in its preliminary rounds, the Copa Libertadores always delivers unexpected stories, and Paraguay witnessed one of them. 2 de Mayo, a club largely unknown on the international stage, claimed a memorable 1-0 victory over Alianza Lima, one of South America’s most traditional sides, in a historic debut.

Alianza Lima head coach Pablo Guede made several changes to his lineup, including leaving Paolo Guerrero on the bench from the start. The decision backfired, as the Peruvian side fell by the narrowest margin and will now be forced to chase the result in Lima.

Guerrero comes off the bench as Pavéz injury raises concerns

Guerrero’s absence from the starting XI was one of the biggest surprises of the night. The veteran striker entered as a substitute but failed to create clear scoring chances, unlike teammates such as Gentile, who were more involved in attack.

To make matters worse, Esteban Pavéz — one of Alianza Lima’s key pieces this season — was forced off injured, raising concerns ahead of next Thursday’s second leg in Lima.

Diego Acosta stunner rewards a relentless 2 de Mayo

Before the goal, the Paraguayan side had already threatened through Alan Gómez and Ruiz Díaz. The breakthrough finally came when Diego Acosta unleashed a powerful strike into the top corner to cap a historic night.

Defensively, 2 de Mayo also rose to the occasion. One of the standout moments was a brave, painful block from Óscar Romero, who denied a close-range effort to preserve the lead.

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