Colo-Colo 2-3 Cerro Porteño, Copa Libertadores 2011

Game of the week - 22 April 2011

On 21 April 2011 Chilean side Colo-Colo hosted Cerro Porteño of Paraguay in the last game in group five of Copa Libertadores 2011. Both sides had been struggling in their own domestic leagues but this game would give the winners a chance to progress to the knockout stages of Copa Libertadores.

The game started well for the home team who established a two goal lead with a pair of cracking goals from Cristobal Jorquera and Esteban Paredes meaning that the visitors would need three goals in order to progress.

Jonathan Fabbro got a goal back for the visitors before half time with a quality shot into the far top corner and minutes after the break Iván Piris levelled the scores after a cool assist from Roberto Nanni. Fabbro secured his position as the hero of the day for Cerro Porteño with an 88th minute free kick for a famous comeback.

Neutrals should be a bit sad to see Colo-Colo eliminated from the competition as they were the second highest scorers after Cruzeiro, the team who's six games featured the most goals (31) and played in four amazing games selected by us as our games of the week.

For more great games involving South American teams, check out the rest of the Partidazo series.

Santos 3-2 Colo-Colo, Copa Libertadores 2011 - Game of the week

Game of the week - 8 April 2011

When Santos hosted Colo-Colo in group five of Copa Libertadores 2011 few people would have expected the game to be as enthralling as the 3-2 win for Colo-Colo in the reverse fixture. If anything Santos' 3-2 win in the return fixture was even more action packed, with five goals, five red cards and a host of other incidents.

Santos cruised into a three-nil half time lead  with goals from Elano, Daanilo and another wondergoal from Neymar. The only sour point for them was that Neymar was sent off for a second booking after donning a paper mask of himself during his goal celebration.

The in the 56th minute Ze Eduardo was sent off for Santos and Andrés Scotti was sent off for his part in the ensuing brawl. Colo-Colo bagged two goals in the last few minutes to set up an exciting finale in which the referee also sent off Elano and Cristobal Jorquera meaning the last minute of the game was eight against nine.

Santos held on for the win that kept alive their hopes of progressing to the knockout stages.

For more great games involving South American teams, check out the rest of the Partidazo series.

Junior 1-1 América de Cali, Game of the week

Game of the week - 1 April 2011

On 26 March 2011 two struggling sides in the Colombian league met in Barranquilla in the eighth round of the Apertura 2011 tournament. The hosts Junior had been enjoying a successful start to their Copa Libertadores 2011 campaign with four straight wins but back at home their league form was dismal with only two wins in their first seven games. América de Cali famously reached four Copa Libertadores finals between 1984 and 1996 only to lose all of them. There looks little chance of them even qualifying for Copa Libertadores 2012 given that they were also in the bottom half of the table after seven games.

The game ended 1-1 with two spectacular goals. Carlos Bacca put the hosts ahead with a looping back-heel finish then América's Brazilian forward Ronaille scored with an acrobatic overhead type shot to earn the visitors a draw.

Both sides may be struggling for league form but this game showed that they are both capable of scoring quality goals on their day.

For more great games involving South American teams, check out the rest of the Partidazo series.

Boca Juniors 0-2 Olimpo, Clausura 2011

Game of the week - 22 March 2011

Sunday 20 March 2011 will be a day that lives long in the memories of the fans of Olimpo de Bahía Blanca. Their game against Boca Juniors was monumentally important for the small club from the Atlantic coast of Buenos Aires Province for several reasons. Not only was their 0-2 win at the once intimidating Bombonera stadium their first away win against Boca Juniors, the world's joint most successful team in international club football.

Olimpo played the better football for the majority of the match and had a perfectly good goal from Ezequiel Maggiolo disallowed before Martín Rolle put them ahead controlling the ball and striking the shot on the run. In the second half the visitors even began showboating and attempting to play Olé football. In the last few minutes of the game Juan Furch came on as a substitute and scored the "Aurinegro" a deserved second goal within a minute.

The result meant that at the end of the sixth round of games Olimpo were sitting alone at the very top of the Clausura 2011 table and also outside of the promedios relegation zone for the first time since they lost to Boca in the reverse fixture back in September.

For more great games involving South American teams, check out the rest of the Partidazo series.

Colo-Colo 3-2 Santos, Copa Libertadores 2011 - Game of the week

On 16 March 2011 Colo-Colo hosted Brazilian side Santos in a group 5 game in Copa Libertadores 2011. They were without a home win against Brazilian opposition in 14 years and found themselves 0-1 down after only five minutes after goalkeeper Juan Castillo failed to read the swerve on an Elano free kick.

Esteban Paredes began the recovery by picking himself up from a clumsy challange by Durval to chip the ball into the far top corner of the net, instead of sprawling on the ground appealing for the penalty. The Chilean side bagged two more goals before half-time, Ezequiel Miralles and Andrés Scotti were the scorers. Despite a Neymar goal for Santos early in the second half Colo-Colo held on for a famous 3-2 win to take them to the top of the group after three games, their fifth consecutive win in all competitions.

Part of the game of the week series.

For more great games involving South American teams, check out the rest of the Partidazo series.

Olimpia 4-3 Guaraní - Partidazo

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On 6 March 2011 Paragauyan league leaders Olimpia hosted Guaraní in the seventh round of games.

Miguel Paniagua opened the scoring for the visitors with a cracking long range strike. Edgar Robles equalised with another brilliant goal then Pablo Zeballos put the hosts ahead with a header.

After half time Guaraní equalised again when Argentine defender Eduardo Filippini headed in a free kick that was chipped into the box from nearer the centre of the pitch than the goalmouth.

Olimpia's Argentine forward Juan Carlos Fereyra re-established the lead and second half substitute tiny Maxi Biancucchi made it 4-2 after a wonderfully unselfish pass from his gigantic looking strike partner Ferreyra.

Guaraní grabbed a goal back in the 87th minute to enliven the last few minutes but Olimpia held on for their seventh consecutive win to maintain their seven point advantage at the top of the table. Nery Pumpido is back in charge of the side he led to Copa Libertadores triumph in their centenary year back in 2002 and has set about qualifying for next year's event in impressive style.

Guaraní were left in the bottom half of the table, a misleading position given the quality of their performance in this game and the fact that they hald three games in hand due to postponments in order to accomodate their 2011 Copa Libertadores commitments.

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For more great games involving South American teams, check out the rest of the Partidazo series.

Vélez Sársfield 3-4 Universidad Cátolica

On 3 March 2011 Vélez Sársfield hosted Chilean champions Universidad Cátolica in group four of the 2011 Copa Libertadores. Both of the clubs were led by Argentine born managers, Vélez by their former player Ricardo Gareca and UC by former Spain international Juan Antonio Pizzi.

After the Chileans established a shock 0-1 lead through Argentine midfielder Lucas Pratto, Vélez stamped their authority on the game scoring three goals (through Fernando Ortiz, Augusto Férnandez & Emiliano Papa) to establish a 3-1 half time lead.

The turning point of the game can be seen as the sending off of Fernando Ortiz early in the second half. The expulsion clearly gave a confidence boost to Pizzi's team who had already made a strong demonstration of their never say die attitude to overcome Colo-Colo's seven point advantage at the top of the Chilean league to win their 10th national championship in December 2010.

Former Rosario Central midfielder Tomás Costa reduced the deficit with a cracking strike on 74 minutes and UC continued to go forward in search of an equaliser which eventually came in the 88th minute through Lucás Pratto's second goal of the game, nothing less than the visitors deserved for their second half endeavour.

Vélez then pushed forward in search of a winner leaving themselves wide open at the back for second half substitute Francisco Pizarro to grab the dramatic winning goal for the visitors in injury time. He was the first non-Argentine player to find his way onto the scoresheet.

Juan Antonio Pizzi can be rightly proud of his players and the fact that they showed the neccessary skill and determination to give UC their first ever away win against Argentine opposition in the Copa Libertadores.

For more great games involving South American teams, check out the rest of the Partidazo series.

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Game of the week: Independiente 3-0 Peñarol

At first glance Independiente-Peñarol is an odd choice for game of the week. There were certainly more technically skillful games last week, there were higher scoring games, more dramatic and more controversial ones too however for anyone with a passion for South American football history this was a must watch game between two of the three most successful teams in the history of Copa Libertadores.

It was Independiente's first proper game in the Copa Libertadores since 2004 and perhaps the most iconic opponents they could possibly have faced in such a game. Both sides have been starved of success in recent years given their illustrious histories. Independiente had been without a major trophy since 2002 until they lifted the much derided Copa Sudamericana in order to qualify for the 2011 Copa Libertadores, they could never have done it through their league form having finished 20th and last in the Apertura 2010. Nobody has appeared in more Libertadores finals than Peñarol, but their 9th and last final was way back in 1987. Their league form is overshadowed by history too, they only have one league championship to their names since 2003, a remarkable decline for a side that were once part of an unstoppable duopoly with fierce local rivals Nacional.

Both sides came into the game on the back of some really poor form, Independiente were four games without a win and Peñarol only had one win in five. This poor form showed in the first half, which was not a great footballing exhibition. Things picked up for Independiente in the second half. Their Copa Sudamericana hero Facundo Parra scored the opening goal, defensive midfielder Cristian Pellerano hammered in a second through a crowded penalty area and substitute Andés Silvera sealed the win with a third goal late in the game.

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Game of the week: Cerro Porteño 5-2 Colo-Colo

In the first round of games in Group 5 of the 2011 Copa Libertadores Paraguayan side Cerro Porteño put on a magnificent display to crush Colo-Colo of Chile 5-2. One of the highlights of the game was 17 year old Argentine born forward Juan Manuel Iturbe's Copa Libertadores debut as a second half substitute, he lived up to expectation hitting two goals.

The result left 29 time Chilean champions Colo-Colo in serious trouble, not only were they bottom of the Chilean league after their worst ever start to a league season they got their Copa Libertadores campaign off to a terrible start.

Part of the game of the week series.

Game of the week: 15 December 2010 Racing 0-2 Vélez

On 12 December 2010 the Apertura 2010 championship in Argentina went down to the last round of fixtures. It looked like the tournament was destined for a championship playoff after Vélez Sársfield established a 2-0 lead against Racing Club a brilliant individual goal from Juan Manuel Martínez and an exceptional free kick from Maxi Moralex, and Estudiantes were being held 0-0 by Arsenal. It took two late goals for Estudiantes' ex Vélez striker Hernán López to secure a 5th domestic championship for the La Plata side.

Not only were the two goals brilliantly taken, but the atmosphere created by the Racing Club fans was amazing. 

Part of the game of the week series.

Game of the week: 8 December 2010 River Plate 0-4 Estudiantes

In the penultimate round of the Apertura 2010 championship in Argentina the league leaders Estudiantes de La Plata faced a tough looking trip to El Monumental to face a resurgent River Plate side, who had recovered from their slump in form that cost Angel Cappa his job.

River Plate's squad of young players like Rogelio Funes Mori and Erik Lamela mixed with experienced veterans like Ariel Ortega and Matías Almeyda had found their form again under caretaker manager J.J. López, however Estudiantes gave them a pasting in this game to put themselves within one win of securing their fifth Argentine league championship.

Part of the game of the week series.

Game of the week: 1 December 2010, Cobreloa 2-3 Universidad Cátolica

OK, so the standard of football in Chile is generally not as high as Argentina and Brazil, however this game between championship chasing Universidad Cátolica and two times Copa Libertadores finalists Cobreloa was a brilliant match.

Universidad Cátolica and championship rivals Colo-Colo were tied on points at the top of the table with two games of the season remaining. They kicked off at the same time on 28 November 2010 with the pressure on both sides to win. UC came back from 1-0 down to establish a 2-1 lead only for Cobreloa to equalise with 17 minutes to go. Argentine midfielder Juan Eluchans then hit a dramatic winner for Universidad Cátolica on 88 minutes and at the final whistle it became clear that Colo-Colo had lost against O'Higgins leaving UC three points clear with only one game of the season left.

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Game of the week: 24 November 2010, LDU Quito 3-2 Independiente

This weeks pick as game of the week is yet another game from Independiente's Copa Sudamericana campaign. On 18 November the Argentine team traveled to the high altitude fortress of La Casa Blanca in Quito to face Liga Deportivo Universitario de Quito who are unbeaten on their own pitch in the tournament since 2007 in the first leg of their semi-final encounter.

The first goal of the game was a long range strike from Juan Manuel Salguiro to put the home team one goal up at half time. Independiente started the 2nd half slowly and within 12 minutes they were 3-0 down and at risk of falling so far behind that they would have no hope of overturning the defecit back in Avellaneda.

Within two minutes of going three goals behind, Néstor Silvera broke Liga's momentum with a vital away goal for Independiente which was clearly scored from an offside position. Six minutes later Lucas Mareque scored the second excellent long ranger of the game to make it 3-2. Liga came close to extending their lead on several occasions, they were denied by a brilliant double save from Independiente keeper Hilario Navarro who had an outstanding night despite shipping three goals. The second leg on Thursday next week should also be a contender for next week's game of the week.

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Game of the week: 17 November 2010 - Internacional 2-3 Avaí

On 14 November 2010 Brazilian side Avaí faced a tough away trip to play Copa Libertadores holders Internacional. They had just been eliminated from the quarter finals of Copa Sudamericana 2010 and needed to focus on escaping from the relegation zone with only 4 games of the league season remaining. They could not have started the game in a better way than scoring the fastest goal of the season after only 16 seconds with this marvelous team goal finished off by Patric. The away team eventually won 2-3 to give themselves a fighting chance of avoiding relegation.

Avaí went 2-0 ahead with another well crafted goal featuring a back-heel in the build up play before the reigning South American champions fought back to 2-2 with two goals in 5 minutes, the first from Leandro Damião and then another goal featuring a back-heel in the build up to set up a magnificent strike from Rafael Sóbis to level the scores.

The away side did not give up and within 4 minutes they had re-established their lead with a header from Robinho (no not that Robinho, he plays for AC Milan). They held onto their advantage until the end of the game to claim a vital 3 points. They are still 2 points away from safety with only 3 games remaining but without this win they would be in a much more desperate position.

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Game of the week: 11 November 2010 - Banfield 2-3 Vélez Sársfield

Vélez Sársfield were under pressure going into the last fixture of round 13 of the Apertura 2010 championship. The game was a tricky away tie against Banfield and their title rivals Estudiantes had extended their lead at the top to six points earlier in the weekend.

Vélez established the lead twice with goals from Santiago Silva and Juan Manuel Martínez, but Banfield equalised twice with spectacular goals from gabriel Méndez and Marcelo Bustamente. The game winner for Vélez was scored by Jonathan Cristaldo in the 72nd minute.

Part of the Game of the week series.

Game of the week: 4 November 2010: Deportes Tolima 2-2 Independiente

This is the second game from Independiente's Copa Sudamericana 2010 campaign selected as game of the week.  This game between Deportes Tolima of Colombia and Argentine side Independiente featured a controversial penalty decision, an absolutely brilliant flying back-heel goal from Deportes Tolima's Wilder Medina and a great free kick from Rodrigo Marangoni to give the home side the lead and a 78th minute equaliser for Independiente.

The rematch back in Argentina promises to be another contender for the game of the week series.

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Game of the week: 27 October 2010 Cruzeiro 3-4 Atlético Mineiro.

This weeks game of the week is Brazil's Mineiro derby from Sunday. The home team Cruzeiro had the chance to take the lead in the Brazilian championship with a win against their local rivals Atlético Mineiro who were in the relegation zone.

However the home side found themselves 0-3 down after half an hour thanks to a hat-trick from Atletico striker Obina and eventually lost the game 3-4.

This surprise result lifted Atlético out of the relegation zone, made them the form team in the league with 12 points from their last 5 games and prevented their local rivals from going to the top of the table.

Game of the week: 20 October 2010

19 October 2010: Argentine club Independiente hosted Uruguayan side Defensor Sporting Club in the second leg of their Copa Sudamericana last 16 game. Independiente trailed 1-0  from the first leg and needed to forget their dismal run of form in the Argentine league which had seen them capitulate pathetically in a 3-1 defeat to Primera División minnows All Boys at the weekend.

Things did not start well for Independiente, after only 12 minutes Defensor scored a vital away goal with an excellent acrobatic strike from Rodrigo Mora, meaning that Independiente had to win by 2 clear goals to progress.

Within 2 minutes Independiente recovered to give themselves some hope with a diving header from Néstor Silva. Five minutes later the comeback was really on when Hernán Fredes scored with an excellent long range strike.

On 28 minutes Independiente put themselves in the lead after excellent work from Patricio Rodríguez down the left to work a crossing opportunity which was controlled and scored brilliantly bu Nicolás Cabrera.

3 minutes into the 2nd half Defensor took the lead on away goals again with a great strike from their young midfielder Diego Rodríguez.

On 75 minutes Independiente after the two substitues combined to score the winner, Alberto Gómez did well to work a crossing opportunity and Nicolás Martínez headed in at the back post.

After a dismal season so far it seems that Independiente have finally found some determination and desire under new manager Antonio Mohammed and as a result have a Copa Sudamericana quarter final against Deportes Tolima of Colombia to look forward to.

Game of the week: 13 October 2010

10 October 2010: There is only one candidate for game of the week this week. One of the greatest Cali Derbies ever.

Deportivo Cali recorded a 6-3 win against América de Cali with a spectacular hat-trick from Argentine forward Martín Morel who scored a free kick for Deportivo's 2nd goal, a bicycle kick for their third and a magnificent long range strike from within the centre circle for their 5th.

This was not Morel's first brilliant hat trick in an incredible high scoring goalfest this season, he netted another 3 goals in a 5-3 win against Once Caldas on 5 Spetember, in which he scored their 2nd, 4th and 5th goals.