Universidad de Chile booked their ticket to the final of the Copa Sudamericana after cruising past Vasco da Gama on Wednesday.
Universidad de Chile defeated Vasco da Gama of Brazil 2-0 in Santiago on Wednesday, to reach the final of the Copa Sudamericana, where they will meet Liga Deportiva Universitaria of Ecuador.
Having picked up a 1-1 draw in Rio de Janeiro last week, Universidad were the favourites to proceed to the final coming into the return leg. However, Vasco had different ideas, and pushed to the attack in large numbers as they searched for an early goal that would put them ahead.
Although they looked dangerous in the early moments of the match, Vasco began to fade as the match went on. Universidad, who have yet to lose a match in the competition, started to dominate their opponents as the half progressed, with their trademark attack-focused one-touch soccer.
Charles Aranguiz was presented with an ideal opportunity to put the Chileans ahead in the first half, but he shot wide when he had the goal at his mercy.
But ten minutes later Universidad went ahead, when after confusion in the Vasco area, a powerful shot from Aranguiz was brilliantly pushed out by Vasco goalkeeper Fernando Prass, however, the rebound fell into the path of Gustavo Canales, who fired the ball home from close-range.
In the second period Vasco did their utmost to find an equaliser, and they came close to doing so in the 62nd minute when a crossed shot from midfielder Romulo was just pushed out by Universidad goalkeeper Johnny Herrera.
Vasco looked extremely dangerous each time they played in Universidad's half of the field, especially when Juninho Pernambucano was presented with deadball situations.
The match was played at an electric pace, with both sides pushing to the attack at every opportunity. It seemed that Eduardo Vargas had put Universidad two-up in the 68th minute, when he latched onto a high ball down the centre of the field and chipped the ball over Fernando, but his effort crept inches wide of the left post.
But four minutes later Vargas redeemed himself, when he met an inch-perfect left-sided cross from Eugenio Mena with an unstoppable volley to send the Chileans into the first international final of their entire history.
Having picked up a 1-1 draw in Rio de Janeiro last week, Universidad were the favourites to proceed to the final coming into the return leg. However, Vasco had different ideas, and pushed to the attack in large numbers as they searched for an early goal that would put them ahead.
Although they looked dangerous in the early moments of the match, Vasco began to fade as the match went on. Universidad, who have yet to lose a match in the competition, started to dominate their opponents as the half progressed, with their trademark attack-focused one-touch soccer.
Charles Aranguiz was presented with an ideal opportunity to put the Chileans ahead in the first half, but he shot wide when he had the goal at his mercy.
But ten minutes later Universidad went ahead, when after confusion in the Vasco area, a powerful shot from Aranguiz was brilliantly pushed out by Vasco goalkeeper Fernando Prass, however, the rebound fell into the path of Gustavo Canales, who fired the ball home from close-range.
In the second period Vasco did their utmost to find an equaliser, and they came close to doing so in the 62nd minute when a crossed shot from midfielder Romulo was just pushed out by Universidad goalkeeper Johnny Herrera.
Vasco looked extremely dangerous each time they played in Universidad's half of the field, especially when Juninho Pernambucano was presented with deadball situations.
The match was played at an electric pace, with both sides pushing to the attack at every opportunity. It seemed that Eduardo Vargas had put Universidad two-up in the 68th minute, when he latched onto a high ball down the centre of the field and chipped the ball over Fernando, but his effort crept inches wide of the left post.
But four minutes later Vargas redeemed himself, when he met an inch-perfect left-sided cross from Eugenio Mena with an unstoppable volley to send the Chileans into the first international final of their entire history.
