Copa Sudamericana semifinal postponed due to COVID-19 risks

By: The Associated Press Posted: 6:05 PM CST Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021 Last Modified: 6:07 PM CST Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021

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SANTIAGO, Chile - South American soccer body CONMEBOL called off Thursday's first leg of the Copa Sudamericana semifinal between Chile's Coquimbo and Argentina's Defensa y Justicia. The decision came hours before kickoff after local health authorities confirmed three players of the visiting Argentinian side tested positive for COVID-19.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 07/01/2021 (2048 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SANTIAGO, Chile – South American soccer body CONMEBOL called off Thursday’s first leg of the Copa Sudamericana semifinal between Chile’s Coquimbo and Argentina’s Defensa y Justicia. The decision came hours before kickoff after local health authorities confirmed three players of the visiting Argentinian side tested positive for COVID-19.

Chilean authorities said the 56 members of the Argentine team’s delegation in Santiago had close contact with the infected players and should remain isolated at their hotel.

CONMEBOL said the match has been rescheduled for next Tuesday in Asunción, Paraguay. The Chilean team based in a city 460 kilometres (285 miles) north of Santiago had already lost the right to play at home, having its first leg transferred to the country’s capital.

Players of Argentina's Defensa y Justicia celebrate at the end of a Copa Sudamericana quarterfinal second leg soccer match at Norberto Tomaghello stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020. Defensa y Justicia won 4-2 on aggregate and advances for the semifinals. (Juan Mabromata/Pool via AP)

The other semifinal of the tournament is an all Argentine affair that had its first leg on Wednesday. Visitors Lanus beat Velez Sarsfield 1-0 with a goal scored by veteran striker Jose Sand in the 39th minute.