Copa Sudamericana wrap: Arsenal take upper hand

In an all-Argentine clash in the Copa Sudamericana, Arsenal proved too strong for Estudiantes on Tuesday.

The two clubs met at Arsenal’s home stadium in Buenos Aires, the Estadio Julio Humberto Grondona, and it was the hosts who triumphed 2-0 to take the upper hand in the two-legged tie.

After a goalless first half, Luciano Leguizamon bagged the game’s first goal on 50 minutes.

And the victory was wrapped up when defender Cristian Trombetta scored with 15 minutes to play, capping off an impressive second half from the hosts.

The second leg of the tie will be played in La Plata on September 7.

In the day’s other match, Paraguayan side Nacional Asuncion salvaged a 1-1 draw with Aurora of Bolivia in the first leg of their second round tie.

Nacional had the advantage of playing the game during their domestic season, while their opponents had not yet played a league game.

But surprisingly, it was the freshness of Aurora that saw them start well early and snare a sixth-minute goal through Aquilino Villalba scored after just six minutes, but he was soon to turn from hero to villain.

Villalba was given a straight red card just one minute into the second half in what was a spiteful contest.

Nacional made the most of the numerical advantage as Javier Gonzalez rescued a draw for the hosts with 22 minutes to play, leaving the tie evenly poised heading into the second leg in Cochabamba on September 21.