Reports & highlights of Group 4 in the 2011 Copa Libertadores.
Results
| 15-02-11 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Vélez Sársfield (Arg) | 3-0 | Caracas FC (Ven) |
| 16-02-11 | ||
| Unión Española (Chi) | 2-2 | Universidad Cátolica (Chi) |
| 03-03-11 | ||
| Vélez Sársfield (Arg) | 3-4 | Universidad Cátolica (Chi) |
| Caracas FC (Ven) | 2-0 | Unión Española (Chi) |
| 09-03-11 | ||
| Universidad Cátolica (Chi) | 1-3 | Caracas FC (Ven) |
| 10-03-11 | ||
| Unión Española (Chi) | 2-1 | Vélez Sársfield (Arg) |
| 22-03-11 | ||
| Caracas FC (Ven) | 0-2 | Universidad Cátolica (Chi) |
| 24-03-11 | ||
| Vélez Sársfield (Arg) | 2-1 | Unión Española (Chi) |
| 07-04-11 | ||
| Unión Española (Chi) | 1-2 | Caracas FC (Ven) |
| Universidad Cátolica (Chi) | 0-0 | Vélez Sársfield (Arg) |
| 14-04-11 | ||
| Universidad Cátolica (Chi) | 2-1 | Unión Española (Chi) |
| Caracas FC (Ven) | 0-3 | Vélez Sársfield (Arg) |
Table
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Universidad Católica | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 9 | +2 | 11 |
 Vélez Sársfield | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 8 | +5 | 10 |
 Caracas | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 10 | −2 | 9 |
| Unión Española | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 11 | −5 | 4 |
Match reports
Round 1
Vélez Sársfield got their Copa Libertadores 2011 campaign off to a great start with a 3-0 win against Caracas FC. Maxi Moralez scored from long range to make in 1-0 at half time. New recruit from Godoy Cruz Davíd Ramírez hit another special long range strike for 2-0 and then Juan Manuel Martínez scored a late penalty for the third. The other game between the group's two Chilean sides ended in a 2-2 draw after Unión Española hit a late penalty to equalise against Universidad Cátolica.
Round 2
The third game in the group was a historic one in which Universidad Cátolica recorded their first ever away win against Argentine opposition in the Copa Libertadores coming back from 3-1 down against Vélez Sársfield. Argentine midfielder Tomás Costa got the visitors back into the game with a great long range goal and gave them a platform to win the game 3-4 with two late goals.
In the other game Venezuelan side Caracas FC secured their first win of the campaign with a 2-0 win against Unión Española who now lie bottom of the group.
Round 3
After their hugely impressive away win against Vélez in round two Universidad Cátolica collapsed to an unexpected 1-3 home defeat to Caracas FC. All four of the goals came in an eight minute blitz at the beginning of the second half.
The following day Vélez Sársfield suffered a 2-1 away defeat at Unión Española, a result which left the Argentine side at the bottom of the group and Caracas as the stand alone leaders, positions that would have been difficult to predict after Vélez's 3-0 opening defeat of the Venezuelans.
Round 4
Universidad Cátolica retook leadership of the group by inflicting a 0-2 home defeat on Caracas with both of the goals coming in the second half. José Villanueva scored the first after Caracas failed to clear the danger then late in the game Lucas Pratto was allowed to run through the home teams defence for the second.
Vélez Sársfield beat Unión Españonla to go second in the group behind Universidad Cátilica but the Argentine team's two remaining games are both away from home.
Round 5
Unión Española were eliminated after a 1-2 home defeat against Caracas FC who lead the group going into the final round of fixtures.Sebastián Jaime put the Chileans ahead with a powerful header after only three minutes but Caracas levelled the scores before half time with a deflected shot from Louis Peña.
After the seven goal thriller in their first encounter Universidad Cátolica and Vélez Sársfield played out a tame 0-0 draw meaning that Vélez would more than likely need to beat Caracas in Venezuela and UC would qualify with a draw against Unión Española. Leonardo Monje wasted a brilliant opportunity for Unión before half time hitting the post after Caracas goalkeeper Renny Vega gifted him posession about three yards from goal. Josef Martínez bagged an 82nd minute winner for the Venezuelans with a nice turn and shot.
Round 6
Caracas went into the final round as group leaders needing only a draw to progress to the knockout phase but they ended up losing 0-3 to Vélez Sársfield in front of their own fans. Maxi Moralez put the Argentine side ahead in the first half and Santiago Silva made sure of the win with two second half goals, the first was a cross that went over the keeper's head into the net and the second was a typical Silva header.
Universidad Cátolica secured the other place in the knockout phase with a 2-1 win against fellow Chileans Unión Española who were already out of the reckoning. They had to come back from a goal down to secure progress. Kevin Harbottle put Unión ahead at the beginning of the second half but Pablo Calandria scored the equaliser only two minutes later and UC's winner came from an unfortunate deflected own goal from Gioivanny Espinoza.
Back to Group stage overview page
For more South American football highlights, including the Argentine and Brazilian leagues, the pick of the rest and other international tournaments:
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