The Sports Tachira thrashed this Wednesday 3-0 at Oil Independent Bolivian on the fifth day of the Liberators cupwith which they climbed to second place and remain in the fight for the last pass to the round of 16 in group A. The Venezuelan club accumulates 7 points and escorts Palmeiras, classified in advance with 15 points, while Emelec is third with 5 integers and already eliminated is Independiente Petrolero with one.
The star of the match, played at the Pueblo Nuevo Sports Center, was midfielder Robert Hernández, who in six minutes, at 22 and 28, scored two of the three goals that gave the Venezuelans their second victory in this group stage. Renny Simisterra, at 92, converted the third.
From the first half, the Venezuelans set the pace of the contest with greater precision in plays and shots on goal. The Bolivians threatened in the 14th minute with a shot by Robin Ramírez to the left from inside the area that did not go over the goal of Venezuelan Diego Valdés.
But, after about five failed shots, in minute 22, Hernández opened the scoring with a shot from outside the area with the assistance of Yerson Chacón. When Deportivo Táchira was still celebrating the first goal, Hernández repeated and crossed Independiente’s goal in the minute 28 with a direct shot to the heart of the goal that goalkeeper Hugo Ayala could not contain.
Although the torrential rain in San Cristóbal made things difficult for both teams, the locals maintained their pride in the second part of the contest and consolidated their victory. In discount Simisterra got the third goal with a low shot from the center of the area that entered after a counterattack.
On the sixth and final day, Táchira is forced to beat Palmeiras.