Di Maria nets maiden Copa Libertadores goal, two decades after debut

Ángel Di María scored his first Copa Libertadores goal as Rosario Central beat Universidad Central de Venezuela 3‑0 in Caracas to move top of Group H. After a slow, chance‑light opening, Central struck in the thirty‑fifth minute when Ignacio Ovando redirected a corner into the net. The visitors controlled the tempo but could not add a second before halftime. Early in the restart, a clear Central break forced UCV goalkeeper Giancarlo Schiavone into a foul, and Di María calmly converted the resulting penalty to double the lead.

UCV produced their best opportunity soon after, a sharp passing move that left Juan Camilo Zapata facing an open goal, but Conan Ledesma made a superb save, tipping the shot onto the crossbar. Enzo Copetti sealed the result in stoppage time, securing Central’s second away win of the campaign. Central and Independiente del Valle now lead the group with seven points, while UCV sit third.