Montevideo, August 3 (BNA): Luis Suarez came on as a substitute in his first match since his return to Nacional, but he could not help his Uruguayan club avoid a 1-0 loss at home to Brazil’s Atlético Guianese on Tuesday in the first leg. Quarter-finals of the Sud Americana Cup.
The 35-year-old Suarez joined Nacional after his contract with Atletico Madrid expired in hopes of remaining fit enough to play for Uruguay at the World Cup, which kicks off in November.
Luis Fernando scored the only goal in the match in Montevideo in the 23rd minute.
Nacional almost equalized towards the end of the game after Suarez played down the left flank Juan Ignacio Ramirez in a good position to finish, but the ball hit the post, the Associated Press reported.
The return match will be played next Tuesday in Goiania, the heart of Brazil.
Winning the Copa América, the second most important club tournament in South American football, is a major goal for Suarez and his club.
Suarez’s previous spell with Nacional was in 2005-06.
He also played with great success for Ajax, Liverpool and Barcelona during his time in European football.
The veteran striker scored 68 goals in 132 matches for the national team. Uruguay is in Group H in the World Cup along with Portugal, Ghana and South Korea.
Another South American football star made his Brazilian debut with the Brazilian Flamengo in the Copa Libertadores. Arturo Vidal of Chile went on as a substitute in the 73rd minute of his team’s 2-0 win over Corinthians in the quarter-finals of the region’s major club championship.
The 35-year-old had already played for Flamengo in the Brazilian Championship after joining from Inter Milan on a free transfer earlier this month.
The return match between the two Brazilian teams will be held in Rio de Janeiro next Tuesday.
ZHB