ASUNCION, May 1 (Reuters) - Teenage Argentine striker Juan Iturbe, dubbed 'Mini Messi', made a huge impact on Paraguay's biggest soccer match on Sunday when he scored a goal and played a part in another.
The 17-year-old came on 20 minutes from time for Cerro Porteno in their 2-0 win over Olimpo in the Asuncion "clasico" and within 10 minutes had robbed the ball from Paraguay centre back Julio Cesar Caceres and scored.
Iturbe, who has agreed to sign for Porto and will move to northern Portugal after turning 18 on June 4, ran to the touchline making heart signs with his hands to the Cerro faithful.
"I'd dreamt of scoring against Olimpia," Iturbe told reporters.
Cerro, a man short from the 43rd minute following defender Pedro Benitez's red card, survived Olimpia's best chance for an equaliser in the 89th when Enrique Meza hit the bar.
The ball went back down to the Olimpia box where Iturbe, likened to Messi since his goalscoring exploits for Argentina's under-20 team earlier this year, was up-ended by midfielder Pedro Vera and Luis Caceres scored from the penalty spot.
The win was a boost for Cerro ahead of Wednesday's Libertadores Cup clash with Estudiantes of Argentina at the same venue, the Defensores del Chaco national stadium close to the banks of the Paraguay river.
Rival fans in a crowd of 25,000 exchanged barbs, with Olimpia claiming bragging rights as former South American and club world champions and Cerro enjoying a good run in this year's Libertadores.
Cerro held four-times winners Estudiantes 0-0 away in La Plata in the first leg of their first knockout tie and are favourites to reach the last eight.
Olimpia remain top of the Paraguay league standings, equal on points with Nacional who have a game in hand. Cerro are seventh 16 points off the pace.
The 17-year-old came on 20 minutes from time for Cerro Porteno in their 2-0 win over Olimpo in the Asuncion "clasico" and within 10 minutes had robbed the ball from Paraguay centre back Julio Cesar Caceres and scored.
Iturbe, who has agreed to sign for Porto and will move to northern Portugal after turning 18 on June 4, ran to the touchline making heart signs with his hands to the Cerro faithful.
"I'd dreamt of scoring against Olimpia," Iturbe told reporters.
Cerro, a man short from the 43rd minute following defender Pedro Benitez's red card, survived Olimpia's best chance for an equaliser in the 89th when Enrique Meza hit the bar.
The ball went back down to the Olimpia box where Iturbe, likened to Messi since his goalscoring exploits for Argentina's under-20 team earlier this year, was up-ended by midfielder Pedro Vera and Luis Caceres scored from the penalty spot.
The win was a boost for Cerro ahead of Wednesday's Libertadores Cup clash with Estudiantes of Argentina at the same venue, the Defensores del Chaco national stadium close to the banks of the Paraguay river.
Rival fans in a crowd of 25,000 exchanged barbs, with Olimpia claiming bragging rights as former South American and club world champions and Cerro enjoying a good run in this year's Libertadores.
Cerro held four-times winners Estudiantes 0-0 away in La Plata in the first leg of their first knockout tie and are favourites to reach the last eight.
Olimpia remain top of the Paraguay league standings, equal on points with Nacional who have a game in hand. Cerro are seventh 16 points off the pace.
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