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Palmeiras defeated Cerro Porteño 1-0 in Asunción to secure a place in the Copa Libertadores Quarterfinals, with Gustavo Gómez scoring the goal that gave the Brazilian side a 2-1 aggregate victory.

The 'Verdão' captain, a Paraguayan international and former Cerro Porteño player, struck in the 41st minute at La Nueva Olla.

Colombian midfielder Jhon Arias delivered a corner from the left and Gómez rose above his compatriot and Paraguay teammate Gustavo Velásquez to head the ball into the net.

The goal ultimately decided a series that had been level following a 1-1 draw in the first leg in São Paulo.

Cerro Porteño creates chances before Gustavo Gómez strikes

Before falling behind, Cerro Porteño had controlled significant stretches of a fiercely contested match.

The Paraguayan side created the better opportunities during that spell but failed to turn them into the goal that could have put it ahead in the series.

Palmeiras, meanwhile, capitalized on one of its opportunities before halftime, using a set piece to break the deadlock.

The match changed in the second half as Ariel Holan looked for more attacking options by introducing Mateo Klimowicz, Juan Iturbe and Guillermo Benítez around the hour mark.

Those changes allowed Cerro Porteño to push higher up the field, but also opened spaces for José Manuel 'Flaco' López and Vitor Roque to threaten on the counter.

Carlos Miguel preserves the lead as Palmeiras advances

Palmeiras was forced to withstand heavy pressure in the closing stages.

With Cerro Porteño pushing for the goal that would keep its hopes alive, goalkeeper Carlos Miguel emerged as one of the key figures for the Brazilian side.

He first dealt with a powerful header from Torres before producing another crucial intervention in stoppage time, stretching to keep out Pablo Vegetti's effort from inside the box.

The save preserved the 1-0 victory and 2-1 aggregate score, sending Palmeiras through to the Copa Libertadores Quarterfinals.

The Brazilian side will next face the winner of the series between Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Quito and Mirassol, which is tied 1-1 ahead of Thursday's deciding match in Ecuador.

For Cerro Porteño, the defeat ends its continental campaign, with attention now turning to Sunday's domestic clásico against Olimpia.

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