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Óscar Cardozo is refusing to take his foot off the goalscoring pedal, and even after 20 years of life as a professional footballer, the Guaraní is still defying the odds of an aging soccer player.
Óscar Cardozo scores 4 first-half goals against Cerro Porteño
Cardozo's Libertad hosted Cerro Porteño on Matchday 10 of Paraguay's Division Profesional on Saturday in a match featuring two of the league's three title-chasing teams. First-place Libertad had a five-point lead over third-place Cerro before kick-off.
The game promised entertainment and a lot of goals from two teams looking to increase their chances of winning this year’s Clausura title. Cardozo, however, had his own plans.
Libertad opened the scoring in only the second minute after a Cerro Porteño mistake, leading to a Libertad breakaway that ended with cool finish from the veteran No. 7.
¡Óscar Cardozo anotó para @Libertad_Guma al minuto del inicio de juego!
¡Disfrutá del #AperturaAPF2023 en Tigo Sports! pic.twitter.com/jxuzLwkP2o— Tigo Sports (@TigoSportsPY) April 2, 2023
10 minutes later, some combination play at the top of the 18 left Cardozo with an open net on his preferred and ageless left foot. Too easy.
¡Segundo gol de @Libertad_Guma! Doblete de Óscar Cardozo en el Tigo La Huerta.
¡Disfrutá del #AperturaAPF2023 en Tigo Sports! pic.twitter.com/SMT92ZuSFT— Tigo Sports (@TigoSportsPY) April 2, 2023
At 45+2', a long ball into Cardozo followed by a missed half-volley by the Cerro defender left the 6’4'' giant clear on goal to seal his first-half hat-trick and the momentary 4-0 lead over azulgranas.
¡El tercero de Tacuara! Óscar Cardozo anota el cuarto de @Libertad_Guma.
¡Disfrutá del #AperturaAPF2023 en Tigo Sports! pic.twitter.com/e7e2nkNrD3— Tigo Sports (@TigoSportsPY) April 2, 2023
This was the first time Cardozo had scored three goals in a game since the 2014-15 season with Trabzonspor in Turkey's Süper Lig.
However, 10 minutes into added time and with Libertad still keen on scoring goals, a penalty in the closing seconds of the half gave “Tacuara” a chance to score his fourth of the game. A confident shot down the middle by the striker did just that.
De penal, Óscar Cardozo pone el quinto para @Libertad_Guma.
¡Disfrutá del #AperturaAPF2023 en Tigo Sports! pic.twitter.com/VvdoFFGpGo— Tigo Sports (@TigoSportsPY) April 2, 2023
This was the first "poker" in the Paraguayan’s career. He did it in one half and less than two months away from his 40th birthday.
CATEGÓRICA GOLEADA
Libertad se impone por 5-0 a un desdibujado Cerro Porteño en el Tigo La Huerta. Óscar Cardozo, la gran sensación del partido correspondiente a la décima fecha del Apertura, anotando un póker de goles. El Guma estira su ventaja al frente de la clasificación. pic.twitter.com/WhfHxvCfcb— Tigo Sports (@TigoSportsPY) April 2, 2023
Greatness.
Cardozo has scored 290 club goals in 598 games (including 205 goal contributions in 290 for Benfica) in a more than illustrious 20-year career across Europe and South America. He’s only 10 goals away from 300 and only two games away from 600 in his club career.
Legends will be legends and we’re here to give Óscar René Cardozo Marín his flowers before we stop seeing him grace the pitch.
