Altitude, Tactics & Penalties: How The Strongest’s 4-2-3-1 Beat Deportivo Táchira’s 4-1-4-1 in Copa Libertadores Qualifying

🔥 Copa Libertadores 2026 Qualifiers Recap

The Strongest 2–1 Deportivo Táchira

Matchday: Phase 1 – First Leg | Venue: Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia | 

Date: 3 February 2026

In a pulsating opener to their Libertadores campaign, The Strongest served notice on their continental ambitions with a hard‑fought 2–1 victory against Deportivo Táchira. It was a match defined by pressure, altitude, and decisive moments from the penalty spot, with the Bolivian side earning a slender advantage to take into the second leg in Venezuela next week.

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📊 Match Statistics

Statistic	The Strongest	Deportivo Táchira
Possession	78%	22%
Total Shots	27	10
Shots on Target	8	4
Corners	8	2
Fouls	12	11
Saves	3	6
Expected Goals (xG)	~2.28	~1.52

This was a match of contrasts: The Strongest dominated possession and territory, moving the ball with urgency and intent, while Táchira preferred defensive structure and counter‑play. The huge possession gap underscored the altitude advantage the Bolivians hold at Hernando Siles, where both stamina and ball control are often decisive.

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⚡ Key Moments

First Half — Cautious and Tactical

The opening 45 minutes produced few clear chances. The Strongest had territorial control and attempted several efforts from the edge of the box — including a header narrowly over the bar — but lacked the clinical finish to make the breakthrough before half‑time. Meanwhile, Deportivo Táchira remained compact, hoping to stay close to nullify the home team’s rhythm.

56’ — Penalty & Opening Goal (Arrascaita)

Early in the second half, The Strongest were awarded a penalty after sustained pressure inside Táchira’s area. Jaime Arrascaita stepped up confidently and converted with composure from the spot to give his side the lead, setting the stadium alight.

63’ — Equaliser (Calzadilla)

Just minutes later, the visitors showed grit and resilience. From a set‑piece situation, Carlos Calzadilla found space in the box and slammed the ball past the keeper to level the tie, silencing the home crowd and injecting belief into Táchira’s comeback bid.

82’ — Decisive Second Penalty (Abrego)

As the match approached its tense finale, The Strongest were again awarded a spot‑kick after a foul in the area. Víctor Abrego took responsibility and fired home to restore the lead for the Bolivians, giving them a crucial advantage heading into the return leg.

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📌 Tactical Battle & Formations

Tactical setup from the Copa Libertadores qualifier: The Strongest’s 4-2-3-1 possession structure against Deportivo Táchira’s compact 4-1-4-1 defensive block.

The Strongest – 4-2-3-1

The Bolivians lined up in the famous 4-2-3-1 system, with two holding midfielders shielding the backline and a central attacking midfielder orchestrating transitions. This formation allowed them to control possession, circulate the ball across the midfield triangle, and create overloads on the flanks. Their wide wingers provided width, stretching Táchira’s compact shape, while the lone striker’s movement constantly challenged defensive lines.

• Key strength: dominance in midfield and structured build-up in tight spaces.
• Weakness: vulnerability to counter-attacks if the wide players were caught high up the pitch.

Deportivo Táchira – 4-1-4-1

Táchira deployed a 4-1-4-1 system, sitting deep with a single defensive pivot to block passing lanes and protect the back four. The midfield line aimed to intercept and transition quickly into attack, while the lone striker pressed occasionally to disrupt The Strongest’s rhythm.

• Key strength: defensive compactness, forcing The Strongest wide and reducing central threats.
• Weakness: limited attacking options and reliance on counter-attacks or set pieces.

Tactical Observations:

• The Strongest’s double pivot was crucial in recycling possession and providing protection, allowing the fullbacks to push higher.
• Táchira’s single pivot often had to cover more ground, which contributed to their defensive lapses during penalties.
• The altitude amplified The Strongest’s pressing efficiency, as Táchira’s midfield struggled with stamina and high-intensity duels.

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🌟 Key Players

Jaime Arrascaita (The Strongest)

A pivotal figure in The Strongest’s attack, Arrascaita delivered the opening goal, calm and precise from the penalty spot. His off‑ball movement and link‑up play created openings that unsettled the Táchira defense. His influence was felt throughout the match.

Víctor Abrego (The Strongest)

Abrego’s second‑half penalty was the difference maker. Beyond scoring, his willingness to take responsibility in a high‑pressure moment exemplified his mental strength and strike quality.

Carlos Calzadilla (Deportivo Táchira)

Calzadilla’s equaliser was a crucial spark for the Venezuelans. His positioning and sharp finish brought Táchira back into contention and highlighted his value as a goal threat on the break or in set‑piece scenarios.

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📝 Summary

In a pulsating opener that lived up to its Copa Libertadores billing, The Strongest took a slim but significant advantage over Deportivo Táchira with a 2–1 victory in La Paz. Solid possession, disciplined defense, and clinical penalty finishes framed the Bolivian side’s performance, while Táchira’s tactical resilience and attacking intent offered moments of real threat.

With the tie far from decided, both teams now look ahead to the second leg in Venezuela — where Táchira will chase a comeback and The Strongest will defend their lead and momentum. Expect passion, strategy, and intensity when this series resumes next week.