Liga de Quito draws 1-1 at Mirassol, Alvarez praises team's grit in Libertadores round of 16

It was a draw that felt like too little given what Liga de Quito created, and like a lot given what it set up for the second leg. Liga de Quito visited Mirassol in the round of 16 of the CONMEBOL Libertadores and came away with a 1-1 draw that, according to Gustavo Alvarez, could have been even better had the team been sharper up front.

The Argentine coach held nothing back in his postgame press conference. He spoke of a first half dominated by his side, full of clear chances that never turned into goals, and of a defensive mistake that ended up costing them dearly. "In the first half we were the better team, we created four or five scoring chances, a couple of them off high pressing. Our lack of precision kept us from scoring. There was a defensive slip that let the opponent score. The result comes down to decisions made in both boxes. We needed to keep up the intensity on a fast pitch," he explained.

The second half had a different rhythm, more even, more end to end, but Liga de Quito never stopped pushing for the opposing goal. Alvarez was clear about what he asked of his players at halftime: control the ball more and avoid trading blows with the home side. The goal came anyway, though with less buildup than the coach would have liked. "I asked them to control the ball because I don't like a back and forth slugfest. The goal came from a play with less buildup than I wanted, but the team took a step forward and fixed things from the last match," he said.

Beyond the result, there was one thing the coach highlighted above everything else: the group's mental response in a tough stadium, and after an unforced error, that of Luis Segovia, which set up Mirassol's goal. That's where Alvarez was proudest of his players.

I want to highlight the character and defiance of this team. We never stopped fighting or looking for the goal until the very end. As a coach, that attitude and that determination give me peace of mind.Gustavo Alvarez

The Estrada situation and what's next

Another topic the coach addressed was the situation with Michael Estrada, who did not have his best night but still proved decisive for the team. Alvarez explained that the forward arrived with physical issues ahead of the match and that the substitution had already been planned before kickoff. "The match was tough for Estrada, since he didn't rest well because he wasn't feeling well. The substitution was planned in advance. A player of that caliber and with that character plays anyway," the coach said, making clear that the forward's exit was not a response to a poor individual performance but a decision made ahead of time.

With the 1-1 scoreline, the tie is completely up for grabs heading into the second leg. Liga de Quito will host Mirassol next Thursday at the Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado, where the Ecuadorian side will look to lean on home field advantage and Quito's altitude to seal its spot in the quarterfinals.