Mirassol beat Always Ready 2-1 away on Tuesday to seal a historic place in the Libertadores knockout stage, with Nathan Fogaça scoring the winner late in the match. The Group G leaders did it behind closed doors at Estadio Tigo La Huerta in Asuncion, where the game had been moved for security reasons.
Shaylon put Mirassol ahead after 10 minutes, finishing a cross from Alesson, and the Brazilian side thought it had extended the lead twice before halftime only for VAR to rule out goals from Edson Carioca and Maraude for offside. Maraude later equalized for Always Ready in the second half, but Fogaça settled it in the closing stages and sent Mirassol to 12 points at the top of the group.
The win makes Mirassol the second Brazilian team to secure a berth in the next round of the Libertadores, after Corinthians also booked its place. The result arrived after Conmebol shifted the match from El Alto, Bolivia, because of political turmoil, street protests and road blockades that made the original venue unsafe. Playing in Asuncion without fans removed one layer of pressure, but not the stakes: Mirassol needed the points to confirm an unprecedented advance.
There was still enough drama to show how tight the margin remained. VAR erased two first-half goals for offside, and Always Ready found a way back before Fogaça decided it at the end. For Mirassol, the night was not just about staying on top of Group G. It was about proving that a club making its mark in continental soccer could handle the awkward travel, the empty stands and the fear of one wasted chance, and still finish the job.
