“Pirate” Vegetti guides Cerro Porteño to victory in neighborhood clash

Pablo Vegetti rescued Cerro Porteño from a match that appeared destined to end goalless. His late finish gave the Ciclón a 1-0 victory over Nacional at La Nueva Olla, closing the ninth round of the 2026 Clausura tournament.

The win, however, did little to conceal Cerro’s shortcomings. Nacional provided a useful test of where Gustavo Costas’s team stands, and the answer was uncomfortable for the home side’s supporters. Cerro had the initiative, but not the fluency or sharpness expected from a team seeking the title.

Nacional focused heavily on defense and rarely committed fully to attack. Yet the visitors had openings and, had they taken more risks, might have made the difference in the first half. Instead, the team appeared to treat a draw as a satisfactory outcome and ultimately left empty-handed.

The game also featured a disputed moment in the area. Lucas Quintana appeared to hold the Colombo-Venezuelan Thomas Gutiérrez, but referee Juan Gabriel Benítez and the VAR officials found no foul. The incident could have resulted in a penalty. Later, Nacional’s 18-year-old defender Mauro Coronel largely contained the 37-year-old Vegetti, limiting Cerro’s main scoring threat.

The decisive move came near the finish. Blas Riveros struck a powerful shot that took a partial deflection, and Vegetti reacted to the rebound to beat goalkeeper “Kili” Rojas. Cerro replaced clarity with effort, but the effort was enough to secure the points.