CONMEBOL roundup: 28-02-11

Chile

There has been a lot of action in Chile this week, including a double round of league fixtures and two major managerial appointments.

Colo-Colo took their time to find a replacement for Diego "Despreocupado" Cagna after their dismal performance at the start of the season and they eventually selected veteran Argentine manager Américo Gallego, who is only the second manger ever to win the Argentine Primera División with three different teams (the only other being José Yudica). He got to see his new team crawl off the bottom of the table with their first win of the season a 0-3 away win against Palestino which featured this classy goal from Cristobal Jorquera.

The other major managerial appointment was Claudio Borghi as national team coach, yet another Argentine manager in a top position in Chilean football.

Back to the league and there is now a three way tie at the top.

Universidad de Chile recovered from a surprise 1-2 home defeat against Santiago Morning on Thursday to batter Universidad de Concepción 1-5.

Reigning champions Universidad Cátolica are also on 13 points after a 2-3 away win against O'Higgins in which their opponents contrived to waste two penalties, followed by a 1-1 draw with Santiago Wanderers.

The third team at the top are newly promoted Unión La Calera who beat a hapless La Sirena team 2-0 and then beat Cobreloa 0-1.

Colombia

There were some cracking games in the fourth round of the Colombian Apertura. Junior managed to get their season back on track with a 2-1 win against Deportivo Pereira. The spectacular winning goal was somewhat overshadowed by the controversial owl abuse from Pereira's Panamanian defender Luis Moreno.

Once Caldas stayed in first position with a 3-2 win against Real Cartagena. Independiente and Millonarios played out an entertaining 3-3 draw and Deportivo Cali find themselves bottom of the table and pointless after four games after losing 2-0 against Boyacá Chicó.

Paraguay

The big game in paraguay between Cerro Porteño and Olimpia  resulted in a 1-2 win for the visitors who now have a seven point lead at the top of the league and also in the sacking of Cerro Porteño manager Blas Cristaldo. Olimpia have the maximum eighteen points from their six games while Cerro are miles behind in seventh place with only five points from their four games.

Peru

After a disatrous 2010 Cienciano have started 2011 in good form as the only Peruvian team to manage three wins in the opening three games. Their latest win was a convincing 3-0 victory against Sport Boys, all three goals in the game were excellent, two long range strikes and an exquisite lob from Diego Bustamante.

The two runaway leaders in last year's competition and the Peruvian representatives in Copa Libertadores 2011 are both struggling. León climbed away from the bottom of the table with a 0-1 win against Universidad César Vallejo and Universidad San Martín are in mid table after a 1-0 away defeat to Universitario.

Ecuador

Liga de Quito are top of the Ecuadorian league after a 1-2 away win at El Nacional, Emelec are two points behind them with a game in hand which will be the Clásico del Astillero against Barcelona Sporting Club on Thursday 3 March.

Bolivia


Oriente Petrolero lost their second consecutive game 2-1 away defeat against Nacional, but their five wins in a row at the start of the campaign is enough to keep them joint top of the table on 15 points and with a game in hand on the other two.

Both of the chasing pair won their games by the odd goal in five to catch up with Oriente; Bolívar beat Guabirá 3-2 and Aurora beat La Paz by the same score.

Uruguay

The big story in Uruguay is that River Plate are still pointless and bottom of the table after a 1-4 capitulation against Racing Club in front of their own fans. Last year's fairytale side El Tanque Sisley are the only other team with no points but they have two games in hand having only played twice so far.

Central Español lead the way with 10 points from their four games after a 0-1 win against Miramar Misiones.

Venezuela

Zamora FC are the form team in Venezuela having won both their games last week with a 3-1 home win against Deportivo Lara and a 0-3 away win against Atlético El Vigía. They are now only two points behind top side Anzoátegui with a game in hand.

For more South American football highlights, including the Argentine & Brazilian leagues and international tournaments: click here.

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