Rosario Central travelled to Quito with Ángel Di María in the starting lineup, aiming to secure at least one point and stay atop its group in the 2026 competition. In a tightly contested, end-to-end match on May 27, Aldair Quintana once again stood out in goal, repeating the strong form he had shown in the earlier meeting between the two sides. He made key saves throughout the match and prevented Rosario Central from conceding early chances that could have changed the game’s direction.
The first half featured several dangerous Rosario Central attacks, but goalkeeper Jeremías Ledesma produced crucial interventions to keep the score level. One of his most important saves came against Enzo Copetti in the 27th minute, after the striker broke away from his marker and raced toward goal. Ledesma also denied Carlos González, Independiente del Valle’s leading scorer, several times in the opening period, preserving Rosario Central’s chances of leaving Ecuador with a result that would keep them in first place in the group.
The match remained balanced in the second half until Junior Sornoza finally broke the deadlock from the penalty spot. His accurate shot into the lower-left corner beat Ledesma and gave Independiente del Valle the only goal of the match. Sornoza’s moment carried added significance because he had been sent off in the teams’ first meeting earlier in the tournament, making this a form of personal revenge as well as a decisive contribution for his side.
Ledesma’s efforts were not enough to prevent Rosario Central’s defeat, but his performance was one of the main reasons the contest remained close until the end. With the win, Independiente del Valle collected all three points, moved to the top of the group, and secured a place among the group leaders for the Round of 16 draw. Rosario Central finished second in the head-to-head standings and will be placed among the runners-up for the next stage.
The result had direct consequences for both teams’ paths in the competition. Independiente del Valle’s victory not only gave them first place in the group but also improved their positioning for the knockout stage. Rosario Central, despite a strong defensive display and the presence of Di María, was unable to get the point it needed to remain at the summit and will now have to advance from the runners-up pool.
