Cerro Largo had the perfect chance to climb to the top of Group A in the Torneo Intermedio on Monday night, but they let it slip, settling for a 1-1 draw at home to bottom side Defensor Sporting. It’s the kind of result that stings more the longer you sit with it — Cerro Largo were up and in control, and they still walked away with just a point.
They didn’t waste any time getting going either. Just 18 minutes in, Diego Daguerre put the home side ahead, and for a while it looked like business as usual for a team that’s been tough to beat on their own turf. Defensor Sporting, who came into the match rock bottom of the group and short on confidence, had other ideas though. Ten minutes after going behind, Mauricio Amaro leveled things up, and that was more or less that — neither side found a way to break the deadlock again the rest of the way.
It’s a frustrating one for Cerro Largo in particular. A win would have put them alone at the top of Group A, but instead they’re now level with Central Español on eight points, with the group bunched up tight below them. Racing sit on seven, Cerro have six, and Boston River and Liverpool are both on five. Defensor Sporting, despite grabbing a point, remain anchored to the bottom of the table with just three.
Elsewhere in the Intermedio, Group B had its own share of drama. Deportivo Maldonado and Albion played out a 1-1 draw of their own, Montevideo City Torque beat Juventud 3-1, Danubio and Nacional couldn’t find a way past each other in a 0-0 stalemate, and Montevideo Wanderers cruised past Progreso 2-0. That leaves Deportivo Maldonado out in front on eleven points, one clear of Nacional, with Montevideo Wanderers and City Torque both trailing on nine. Deportivo Maldonado, under Gabriel Di Noia, also lead the season-long aggregate table that combines points from the Apertura, Intermedio and Clausura — a table that hands a real sporting edge to whoever tops it once the league finals roll around.
For Cerro Largo, next up is a tricky test against fellow group leader Central Español, while Defensor Sporting will be desperate for a first win of the tournament when they visit Racing. As this wire report on the round makes clear, the draw does little to change where either side stands — Cerro Largo remain in the mix at the top, and Defensor Sporting are still fighting to climb out of last.
MATCH SUMMARY
Cerro Largo 1-1 Defensor Sporting Torneo Intermedio, Group A — Round 5 Monday, 13 July 2026
Goals: 18′ Diego Daguerre (Cerro Largo) 1-0 28′ Mauricio Amaro (Defensor Sporting) 1-1
Cerro Largo: Pedro González; Alexander Hernández, Lucas Correa, Alexis Piegas, Santiago Franca; Sebastián Assis, Santiago Marcel, Mario García; Axel Pandiani, Diego Daguerre, Gustavo Viera
Group A standings after Round 5: Cerro Largo 8, Central Español 8, Racing 7, Cerro 6, Boston River 5, Liverpool 5, Defensor Sporting 3
Next up: Cerro Largo vs Central Español / Defensor Sporting vs Racing
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