Liga de Quito are just a step away from reaching the final of the Copa Sudamericana after beating Velez Sarsfield comfortably in the first leg of the semi-finals in Quito on Thursday.
Liga de Quito defeated Velez Sarsfield 2-0 in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana semi-finals at La Casa Blanca stadium in Quito on Thursday. Liga, who won the competition in 2009, are the favourites to reach the championship decider after claiming an excellent result.
Liga's opener appeared in the 48th minute when a Ezequiel Gonzalez drive deflected off team-mate Hernan Barcos before ending up in the back of the net. Then seven minutes from full-time Barcos received a good pass from Gonzalez and blasted the ball into the roof of the net from a difficult angle.
The opening half an hour of the match was all Liga, as the Ecuadorians piled heavy pressure on the Velez goal as they searched for an opener. They created several clear-cut opportunities to score, but failed to take advantage of them.
Velez, who were without key players Juan Manuel Martinez, David Ramirez and Victor Zapata, came more into the game as the half progressed, and they also created a couple of good chances to score, with their best effort coming in the 18th minute when a powerful shot from Guillermo Cabral was brilliantly saved by Liga goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez.
Liga finally broke the deadlock three minutes into the second half, when Gonzalez took advantage of a mistimed pass from a Velez player, before firing the ball towards goal. His shot took a wicked deflection off Barcos before eluding Velez goalkeeper Marcelo Barovero.
Boosted by the goal, Liga went looking for a second against a Velez side who were clearly feeling the effects of playing 2,850 metres above sea level. Edgardo Bauza's side dominated their opponents with direct attacking-centred soccer but when it seemed that they would extend their lead they were either denied by Barovero or the posts.
The Argentines picked up their game towards the end of the half, as they searched desperately for an equalising goal. Although they created a couple of dangerous situations, their finishing was rather weak. Then to Velez's dismay, in the 83rd minute Barcos added Liga's second goal of the night when he was given sufficient time in the area to fire the ball past a hapless Barovero.
Liga take a valuable two-goal advantage into the second leg of the tie that will be staged at Velez's home ground the Jose Amalfitani stadium in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.
Liga's opener appeared in the 48th minute when a Ezequiel Gonzalez drive deflected off team-mate Hernan Barcos before ending up in the back of the net. Then seven minutes from full-time Barcos received a good pass from Gonzalez and blasted the ball into the roof of the net from a difficult angle.
The opening half an hour of the match was all Liga, as the Ecuadorians piled heavy pressure on the Velez goal as they searched for an opener. They created several clear-cut opportunities to score, but failed to take advantage of them.
Velez, who were without key players Juan Manuel Martinez, David Ramirez and Victor Zapata, came more into the game as the half progressed, and they also created a couple of good chances to score, with their best effort coming in the 18th minute when a powerful shot from Guillermo Cabral was brilliantly saved by Liga goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez.
Liga finally broke the deadlock three minutes into the second half, when Gonzalez took advantage of a mistimed pass from a Velez player, before firing the ball towards goal. His shot took a wicked deflection off Barcos before eluding Velez goalkeeper Marcelo Barovero.
Boosted by the goal, Liga went looking for a second against a Velez side who were clearly feeling the effects of playing 2,850 metres above sea level. Edgardo Bauza's side dominated their opponents with direct attacking-centred soccer but when it seemed that they would extend their lead they were either denied by Barovero or the posts.
The Argentines picked up their game towards the end of the half, as they searched desperately for an equalising goal. Although they created a couple of dangerous situations, their finishing was rather weak. Then to Velez's dismay, in the 83rd minute Barcos added Liga's second goal of the night when he was given sufficient time in the area to fire the ball past a hapless Barovero.
Liga take a valuable two-goal advantage into the second leg of the tie that will be staged at Velez's home ground the Jose Amalfitani stadium in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.
