MONTEVIDEO (AP) -- Luis Suarez was substituted in his first match after returning to Nacional. However, he couldn't save his Uruguayan team from a 1-0 home defeat to Brazil's AtleticoGoianiense on Tuesday in the Copa Sudamericana quarterfinals.
After his contract with Atletico Madrid expired, Suarez, 35, joined Nacional in the hope that he would be fit enough to play for Uruguay at this year's World Cup. It starts in November in Qatar.
In the 23rd minute, Luiz Fernando scored in Montevideo the only goal. Nacional nearly equalized the match at the end of the first half after Juan Ignacio Ramirez's play on the left flank. However, the ball missed the post.
Suarez and his club are determined to win the Copa Sudamericana, South America's second most prestigious club tournament. Suarez was with Nacional in 2005-06. During his time in European soccer, he also enjoyed great success with Liverpool, Ajax and Barcelona.
In 132 matches, the veteran striker has scored 68 goals for Uruguay. Uruguay is part of Group H at this World Cup, along with South Korea, Ghana, Portugal and Ghana.
Another South American soccer star made his debut in Brazil's Copa Libertadores for Flamengo. Arturo Vidal from Chile was substituted in the 73rd minutes of his team's 2-0 win over Corinthians in the quarterfinals region's top club tournament.
After joining Inter Milan earlier this month on a free transfer, Vidal, 35, had already played for Flamengo at the Brazilian championship. The second leg between the Brazilian teams will take place in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday.
