Cosas locas: Lightning strike La Equidad vs Nacional

On 12 February 2011 La Equidad faced Atlético Nacional in the 2nd round of the Colombian Apertura 2011. The game had to be temporarily suspended after lightning hit the field. The game resumed and the final score was 1-1.

For more crazy South American football check out the rest of the Cosas locas series.

Partidazo: Cruzeiro 5-0 Estudiantes, 2011 Copa Libertadores

Before Cruzeiro and Estudiantes met in the opening round of Group 7 in the 2011 Copa Libertadores many people had selected the encounter out as the pick of the first round of games. It was widely expected that the Argentine champions Estudiantes would give Cruzeiro a tough game however the home side barely gave their visitors a chance to get started before Wallyson bundled the ball home affter one minute of play.

Cruzeiro utterly dominated the first half, scoring two more goals from Roger and Argentine midfielder Walter Montillo to make it 3-0 at half time. Montillo played an absolute blinder of a performance of the calibre that provokes the question why the hell did Argentine side San Lorenzo offload such a quality player to the wilderness of the Chilean league in 2008?

In the second half Montillo continued to control the game from midfield and bagged another goal before Wallyson rounded the game off with a late fifth goal to inflict Estudiantes' worst ever defeat in international competition. Throughout the game Estudiantes had no defensive shape and barely strung together a coherent attack, an astonishingly lacklustre performance from a team that only conceded eight goals in nineteen games to win the Apertura 2010 tournament.

A quick look through Estudiantes opening away games in Copa Libertadores in recent years should have had people running to put bets on Cruzeiro to win.

• 2006 - Bolívar 1-0 Estudiantes
• 2008 - Cuenca 1-0 Estudiantes
• 2009 - Cruzeiro 3-0 Estudiantes
• 2010 - Alianza Lima 4-1 Estudiantes

The only positive that Estudiantes can take from this game is the fact that after their 0-3 defeat against Cruzeiro in the opening game of the 2009 Copa Libertadores they recovered to to win the tournament, however nobody in the history of the tournament has recovered from a 5-0 defeat in their opening game to win the competition.

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

Highlights: 2011 Copa Libertadores, Group 6

 Reports & highlights of Group 6 in the 2011 Copa Libertadores.

Results

16-02-11
Emelec (Ecu)	1-1	Internacional (Bra)
Jaguares (Mex)	2-0	Jorge Wilstermann (Bol)
22-02-11
Emelec (Ecu)	1-0	Jorge Wilstermann (Bol)
23-02-11
Internacional (Bra)	4-0	Jaguares (Mex)
08-03-11
Jaguares (Mex)	2-1	Emelec (Ecu)
16-03-11
Jorge Wilstermann (Bol)	1-4	Internacional (Bra)
16-03-11
Emelec (Ecu)	1-0	Jaguares (Mex)
30-03-11
Internacional (Bra)	3-0	Jorge Wilstermann (Bol)
06-04-11
Jaguares (Mex)	1-0	Internacional (Bra)
07-04-11
Jorge Wilstermann (Bol)	0-0	Emelec (Ecu)
19-04-11
Jorge Wilstermann (Bol)	2-1	Jaguares (Mex)
Internacional (Bra)	2-0	Emelec (Ecu)

Table

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Internacional	6	4	1	1	14	3	+11	13
Jaguares	6	3	0	3	6	8	−2	9
Emelec	6	2	2	2	4	5	−1	8
Jorge Wilstermann	6	1	1	4	3	11	−8	4

Match reports

Round 1

Copa Libertadores holders Internacional looked set to get off to the perfect start to their title defence but a 94th minute equaliser for Emelec ruined their party. Jaguares jumped to the top of the group with a 2-0 win against Bolivian side Jorge Wilstermann.

Round 2

In their second game an Eduardo Morante header from a corner kick was enough to give Emelec a 1-0 home win against Bolivian side Wilstermann. Copa Libertadores holders Internacional joined the Ecuadorians at the top of the group with four points after a 4-0 demolition of Jaguares, featuring a fine performance from their Argentine international midfielder Mario Bolatti who bagged two goals, a tap in from Leandro Damião and a 90th minute "bombaso" from Oscar for the four nil win.

Round 3

Jaguares moved to the top of group six with a 2-1 win against Emelec. They established a two goal lead with a penalty from Francisco Torres and a brilliant control and finish from Antonio Salazar before Cristian Menéndez pulled a goal back for the Ecuadorians. The tie between Internacional and Wilstermann was postponed until after round four.

The game between Internacional and Wilstermann was delayed until after round four and resulted in an expected win for the holders Internacional against the Bolivian whipping boys. Internacional have not qualified yet but a 3-0 win gave them a goal difference of +10, meaning that a draw in either of their two remaining games would see them qualify.

Round 4

Bolivian second division side Wilstermann were the first side to be mathematically eliminated from the tournament after a 1-4 home defeat to reigning champions Internacional. The Bolivians actually scored first through Argentine defender Juan Brown, who then scored an own goal to level the scores. Leandro Damião and Zé Roberto scored before half time and Kleber Corrêa rounded off the result with a late fourth goal.

The Ecuadorian side Emelec joined Internacional at the top of the table with a 1-0 home win against Jaguares thanks to a second half David Quiroz penalty.

Round 5

Jaguares nearly ensured their qualification for the knockout phase with a 1-0 win against Internacional, second half substitute Antonio Salazar was the hero with a brilliant control, turn and finish.

Emelec shot themselves in the foot by failing to beat group whipping boys Wilstermann. They could only manage a 0-0 draw meaning that they would need to win their last game against the holders Internacional in Brazil in order to qualify.

Round 6

 Reigning champions Internacional finished off their group six campaign with a 2-0 win against Emelec who missed out on qualification despite their rivals Jaguares suffering a surprise 2-1 defeat against Bolivian second division side Jorge Wilstermann.

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:

click here

Highlights: 2011 Copa Libertadores, Group 7

  Reports & highlights of Group 7 in the 2011 Copa Libertadores.

Results

15-02-11
Deportes Tolima (Col)	1-0	Guaraní (Par)
16-02-11
Cruzeiro (Bra)	5-0	Estudiantes (Arg)
22-02-11
Cruzeiro (Bra)	4-0	Guaraní (Par)
23-02-11
Estudiantes (Arg)	1-0	Deportes Tolima (Col)
02-03-11
Deportes Tolima (Col)	0-0	Cruzeiro (Bra)
09-03-11
Guaraní (Par)	1-2	Estudiantes (Arg)
16-03-11
Cruzeiro (Bra)	6-1	Deportes Tolima (Col)
17-03-11
Estudiantes (Arg)	5-1	Guaraní (Par)
30-03-11
Deportes Tolima (Col)	1-1	Estudiantes (Arg)
31-03-11
Guaraní (Par)	0-2	Cruzeiro (Bra)
13-04-11
Guaraní (Par)	0-2	Deportes Tolima (Col)
Estudiantes (Arg)	0-3	Cruzeiro (Bra)

Table

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Cruzeiro	6	5	1	0	20	1	+19	16
Estudiantes	6	3	1	2	9	11	−2	10
Deportes Tolima	6	2	2	2	5	8	−3	8
Guaraní	6	0	0	6	2	16	−14	0

Match reports

Round 1

The biggest shock result in the first round of games was Cruzeiro's 5-0 annihilation of Argentine champions Estudiantes which was orchestrated by Argentine midfielder Walter Montillo who bagged himself two goals. In the other game Deportes Tolima got off to a winning start with a 1-0 win against Guaraní.

Round 2

Cruzeiro continued their brilliant start to the campaign with a 4-0 demolition of Guaraní featuring another couple of goals from Wallyson to make it four in two games for the 22 year old striker, a goal for Cruzeiro's other Argentine Ernesto Farías and a cracking long range effort from Thiago Ribeiro to finish the game off.

Estudiantes recovered from their opening day mauling to record a 1-0 win against Deportes Tolima. A Pablo Barrientos free kick was enough to secure the three points in front of their own fans.

Round 3

Cruzeiro dropped their first points of the campaign in their first away game, drawing 0-0 with Deportes Tolima in Colombia. The game was not as boring as the scoreline suggests and the draw could be a reasonable result for both sides. Estudiantes closed the gap on Cruzeiro to a single point after a hard fought 1-2 away win against Guaraní. The visitors had to come back from a goal down at half time, the scorers were Pablo Barrientos and Leandro González.

Round 4

Cruzeiro continued to look like the strongest team in the tournament with a 6-1 demolition of the Deportes Tolima side that held them to a goalless draw two weeks ago. Walter Montillo had another cracking game and scored the opening goal, Roger scored twice, Wallyson climbed to the top of the goalscorers chart with his fourth of the campaign. Gilberto and Thiago Ribeiro rounded off a brilliant evening with a goal each in the last few minutes. The only slight negative is that they conceded their first goal of the tournament, but with fifteen of their own in their first four games they will not be overly concerned.

Estudiantes edged closer to qualification with a thumping 5-1 win against group whipping boys Guaraní. They were three goals up within the first 25 minutes, Rodrigo López headed the first two goals, the second a really clever header from a huge Juan Sebastián Verón pass, the third was another header from Leandro González. Facundo Roncaglia got himself sent off for lashing out with an elbow early in the second half but this did not stop Estudiantes from attacking. Rodrigo López bagged his hat-trick on 59 minutes with yet another header. Guaraní pulled one back with a scruffy goal on 77 minutes but Estudiantes responded with another goal from González three minutes later to ensure that Estudiantes go into the fifth round of games with a positive goal difference. A fourth defeat in four games means that it is now impossible for Guaraní to progress to the knockout stages.

Round 5

Cruzeiro and Estudiantes both qualified for the knockout stages after Estudiantes managed a 1-1 draw against Deportes Tolima who were eliminated. A couple of hours later Cruzeiro won 2-0 against Guaraní to secure their position at the top of the group (barring an eight goal defeat in La Plata in their last game).

Round 6

With the qualifiers already determined before the sixth round kicked off there was little to play for but pride. Guaraní certainly didn't salvage any losing 0-2 at home to Deportes Tolima. The Paraguayans lost all six of their games shipping sixteen goals in the process.

Estudiantes had a chance to avenge their 5-0 mauling by Cruzeiro in the first round but were crushed 0-3 in front of their own fans. Surely not good preparation for the knockout phase. Cruzeiro scored twenty goals in their six group games and with sixteen points and a goal difference of plus 19 they will be the top seeds in the draw for the "octavos" (last sixteen).

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:

click here

Golazo: Davíd Ramírez vs Caracas, 2011 Copa Libertadores

On 15 February 2010 Vélez Sársfield's new signing Davíd Ramírez made his Copa Libertadores debut at the age of 29 with this excellent long range strike to help his side to record an emphatic 3-0 win in a group 4 game against Caracas FC.

Part of the Golazo series.

Hugo Barrientos vs Gio Moreno

On 13 February 2011 in the opening round of the Clausura 2011 tournament All Boys played Racing Club in an ill tempered game featuring far more silly fouls and yellow cards than entertaining passages of play. The big moment of controversy happened on 78 minutes when All Boys' midfield enforcer Hugo Barrientos and Racing's Colombian midfielder Giovanni Moreno collided near the halfway line. Moreno was stretchered off and in the aftermath Barrientos received death threats against him and his family following the announcement that Moreno could be out for up to six months.

it is hard to see how Moreno ended up so badly injured, however if the referee had maintained better control of the game and stopped the pair from bickering all the way through the match this incident probably wouldn't have happaned.

Highlights: 2011 Copa Libertadores, Group 5

  Reports & highlights of Group 5 in the 2011 Copa Libertadores.

Results

15-02-11
Deportivo Táchira (Ven)	0-0	Santos (Bra)
17-02-11
Cerro Porteño (Par)	5-2	Colo-Colo (Chi)
01-03-11
Deportivo Táchira (Ven)	2-4	Colo-Colo (Chi)
02-03-11
Santos (Bra)	1-1	Cerro Porteño (Par)
10-03-11
Cerro Porteño (Par)	1-1	Deportivo Táchira (Ven)
16-03-11
Colo-Colo (Chi)	3-2	Santos (Bra)
05-04-11
Deportivo Táchira (Ven)	0-2	Cerro Porteño (Par)
06-04-11
Santos (Bra)	3-2	Colo-Colo (Chi)
12-04-11
Colo-Colo (Chi)	2-1	Deportivo Táchira (Ven)
13-04-11
Cerro Porteño (Par)	1-2	Santos (Bra)
20-04-11
Colo-Colo (Chi)	2-3	Cerro Porteño (Par)
Santos (Bra)	3-1	Deportivo Táchira (Ven)

Table

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Cerro Porteño	6	3	2	1	13	8	+5	11
Santos	6	3	2	1	11	8	+3	11
Colo-Colo	6	3	0	3	15	16	−1	9
Deportivo Táchira	6	0	2	4	5	12	−7	2

Match reports

Round 1

After Corintians failure to progress through the qualifying round Santos were the next Brazilian side to slip up dropping points in a 0-0 away draw against Venezuelan side Deportivo Táchira. After the boring stalemate of the first game the second game provided plenty of entertainment with Cerro Porteño beating Colo-Colo 5-2. A brilliant result for the Paraguayan side who saw Argentine striker Roberto Nanni bag a couple of goals and his 17 year old countryman Juan Manuel Iturbe bag a couple more as a 2nd half substitute.

Round 2

By the time the second round of games came around Colo-Colo had found themselves a new manager, Argentine veteran coach made his debut as their coach in a potentially tough looking tie against Deportivo Táchira however they cruised through the game, establishing a four goal lead before Táchira pulled a couple of goals back in the dying minutes of the game.

In their second game Santos dropped more points, this time in front of their own fans in a 1-1 draw against Cerro Porteñ. The Brazilians went ahead early in thesecond half with a penalty from former Manchester City player Elano but the Paraguayans bagged a 90th minute equaliser with a penalty from Roberto Nanni.

Round 3

Cerro Perteño extended their lead at the top of the group with a 1-1 home draw against Deportivo Táchira however dropping points at home against the Venezuelans will be considered a big waste. Cerro's influential Argentine forward Roberto Nanni put the home side ahead with an intelligent shot to beat Manuel Sanhouse at his near post but Sergio Herrera equalised for the visitors with a quality goals, in which he controlled a long ball, retained posession, nutmegged Roberto Burgos and fired a powerful long range shot into the net.

The following week Colo-Colo took over as leaders of the group with a 3-2 home win against a star studded Santos side in our game of the week. The Brazilians took an early lead when Juan Castillo in the Colo-Colo goal failed to read the swerve on an Elano free kick and dominated the next twenty minutes or so as their shellshocked hosts tried to get back into the game. The equaliser came in the 27th minute when Esteban Paredes picked himself up from a stumbling challenge from Durval to chip the ball into the far top corner and from that point until the end of the first half it was one way traffic with two more goals for Colo-Colo from Ezequiel Miralles and Andés Scotti. Neymar pulled a goal back for Santos in the second half but the home side held on for a famous victory. After their pathetic start to the season new manager Américo Gallego has them playing some really good stuff, they have now won five consecutive games in all competitions and last night's result was their first Copa Libertadores home win against Brazilian opposition in 14 years.

Round 4

 The return tie between Santos and Colo-Colo was also a classic. The Brazilians won 3-2 in a game which also featured five red cards and was selected as our game of the week.

Cerro Porteño stayed at the top of the group after a 0-2 away win against Deportivo Táchira. Roberto Nanni scored a great goal to finish off a nice move for their first and Iván Torres scored with a dipping shot from outside the area in the second half.

Round 5

Colo-Colo eliminated Deportivo Táchira from the competition with a 2-1 home win. The hosts fell behind after only four minutes but a brace from Diego Rubio secured the win for Colo-Colo. The result lifted the Chileans to the top of the group and left Brazilian side Santos needing to avoid defeat in their fifth game against Cerro Porteño in Paragauy. Even a draw would have left them in big trouble with three points to make up and an inferior goal difference, but they managed to earn themselves a valuable 1-2 away win to give themselves an excellent chance of making the knockout phase.

Round 6

Santos secured their place in the knockout stages with a comfortable 3-1 home win against bottom of the table Deportivo Táchira. Neymar, Jonathan Cícero and Danilo da Silva bagged the goals for the home team who qualified despite their poor start to the group phase.

The other place went to Cerro Porteño who secured quilfication thenk to a late goal from Jonathan Fabbro to give them a 3-2 win aginst Colo-Colo. Neutrals will be sad to see Colo-Colo go out as they were one of the most entertaining teams in the tournament, their six games featured 31 goals, an average of more than four goals a game.

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:

click here

CONMEBOL roundup, 15 February 2011

Chile

The major talking piont in Chile is the fact that 29 time champions Colo-Colo currently sit bottom of the league with only one point from their first three games. On Saturday they suffered one of the most embarrasing results in their history going down to a 1-5 home defeat against Universidad de Concepción.

Colombia

After two games of the Apertura 2011 the division is headed by the unlikely pair of Atlético Huila and Deportes Quindío who are the only two to have won both of their games, Huila recorded an impressive 3-0 win against Real Cartagena. The highest scoring of the weekend's games was América de Cali's 3-2 win against Deportivo Pereira.

Uruguay

After an astonishingly bad run of nine consecutive defeats at the back end of last season Tacurembó have pulled themselves together and are joint top of the division after two wins in the opening two rounds. Defensor Sporting Club are the only other side with a 100% record.

Central Español put in the performance of the weekend with a 1-5 away win against Cerro and the fairytale finally seems to be over for El Tanque Sisley who have lost both of their opening games.

Paraguay

After three games Libertad and Olimpia lead the way in Paraguay with maximum points. At the weekend Olimpia beat newly promoted side General Caballero 3-1 and Libertad hung on for a 2-1 win against Sportivo Luqueño.

Venezuela

Things are tight at the top of the Venezuelan Primera with Atlético El Vigía top of the table with 12 points from seven games and a host of other teams within three points of them all having played two games less. Yaracuyanos and Anzoategui are in prime position only one point behind the leaders.

Peru

The Peruvian season kicked off this weekend and Alianza Lima came out fighting with an impressive 4-1 win against Unión Commercial. The other outstanding performance of the opening round was Universidad Cesar Vallojo's 3-0 win against CNI.

Bolivia

Oriente Petrolero are the form team in Bolivia having won all of their first five games, nobody else in the division has managed to string together more than two consecutive wins. The highlight of their season so far was a 6-0 demolition of La Paz in the first round of games. At the weekend they won 2-1 against San José.

Ecuador

After three games the lead is shared between three teams on seven points, Deportivo Quito, Emelec and Deportivo Cuenca. The pick of the weekend's games was a 0-4 away win for El Nacional against Olmedo.

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

Golazo: Dixon Arroyo vs Chile U-20, 2011 Sudamericano sub-20

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In the final round of games of the 2011 South American Youth Championships Ecuador U-20 faced Chile U-20 in a 4th place decider to determine which side would qualify to play in the 2011 World Youth Championships.

Chile needed to win to leapfrog Ecuador into 4th place however Ecuador secured qualification with a 1-0 win after this magnificent long range strike from Dixon Arroyo.

Part of the Golazo series.

Golazo: Davíd Vega vs Banfield, Clausura 2011

In August 2010 Davíd Vega returned to the Primera División in Argentina with Olimpo de Bahía Blanca after a six year abscence playing in the lower leagues with teams such as Alumni de Villa María and Defensa y Justicia.

On 12 February 2011 in the first round of the Clausura tournament he scored one of the goals of his career with a stunning half volley to equalise against Banfield before team mate Carlos Salom hit a late winner to give Olimpo a vital 2-1 win.

Part of the Golazo series.