The South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) confirmed the referee who will be in charge of the second leg between Atlético Nacional and Olimpia de Paraguay, valid for the second preliminary phase of the Copa Libertadores 2022, and in which the ‘green’ will have to seek a comeback to continue in the tournament.
The person appointed by Conmebol was the Argentine Patricio Loustau, who will be accompanied at the Atanasio Girardot stadium by his compatriots Ezequiel Brailovsky and Gabriel Chade, while María Laura Fortunato, also from Argentina, will officiate as the fourth referee, as the main novelty for this duel.
(See also: Nacional, practically out of the Copa Libertadores, will discuss continuity of the coach)
Unlike his colleague, Néstor Pitana, with an acceptable performance in the first leg, Loustau has no recent history against the ‘king of cups’ although it comes from calling at the local level the victory (2-1) of Estudiantes de La Plata against Lanús, for the third date of the Argentine League Cup.
Yes, with the ‘striped’ team, which he whistled for the last time the previous year, on July 15, in the draw (0-0) against Sport Club Internacional de Brasil, for the round of 16 of the Cup. That day he took out four yellow cards and decreed 23 fouls, in a quiet match for both teams.
For its part, Fortunato is a 36-year-old professional referee making her way into men’s soccer and in his record it stands out that he has had a FIFA badge for more than a decade. She has been present at the 2019 Women’s World Cup, held in France.
The ‘Verdolagas’ lose the series 3-1, for which they must score at least two goals to force the definition from the penalty spot. Any other result, due to a smaller difference, will play against the interests of the local team that has its coach, Alejandro Restrepo, on the ‘tightrope’.
