Liga de Quito and Universidad de Chile snatch late wins in dramatic quarter-final matches.
Late goals were the order of the day, as Liga de Quito and Universidad de Chile beat Libertad and Arsenal de Sarandi, respectively, in the Copa Sudamericana quarter-finals on Thursday. While both games seemed destined for draws, fans were treated to excitement of the highest order, as two late and rather unexpected goals steered two teams closer to the semi-finals.
Once again Liga proved that they are almost unbeatable when playing in the altitude of Quito. The Ecuadorians stunned Libertad with a freak-goal right at the conclusion of the match. While, Universidad de Chile demonstrated their strength with their third successive away win. La 'U' have yet to lose a match in the competition.
With draws from their return legs, Liga de Quito and Universidad de Chile will progress to the final four of the Copa Sudamericana. The return legs will be played on November 17.
Universidad de Chile have one foot in the semi-finals of the Copa Sudamericana after defeating Arsenal de Sarandi 2-1 in Buenos Aires on Thursday. The Chileans demonstrated that they continue to be the team to beat of the competition with another impressive display.
Arsenal tried to make the most of the fact that they were playing at home, and they pushed to the attack immediately from the kick-off. Within two minutes they had a good opportunity to go ahead, however, a fine header from Lisandro Lopez was brilliantly saved by Universidad goalkeeper Jhonny Herrera.
The Argentines piled heavy pressure on the visitors, and came close to scoring through another two successive headers, this time from Diego Torres and Juan Pablo Caffa. But to the frustration of the home fans they were kept at bay by Herrera.
From the run of play and when on a rare attack Universidad took a surprise lead, when Eduardo Vargas slotted the ball home on the stroke of half-time. The goal should have been disallowed because Vargas scored from an offside position.
However, Arsenal went back on level terms one minute into the second half, when Mauro Obolo capitalised on a defensive error from Universidad midfielder Matias Rodriguez.
Arsenal, who lifted the Copa Sudamericana in 2007, created several opportunities to go in front, however, they were very imprecise when it came to finishing. They were made to pay for their lack of finishing when Gustavo Canales fired home a penalty kick in the 81st minute to hand Universidad an unlikely victory.
A bizarre injury-time goal from Luis Bolanos snatched Liga de Quito a valuable 1-0 victory over Libertad in the first leg of the quarter-finals of the Copa Sudamericana on Thursday. Libertad were on the verge of capturing a precious draw from their visit to La Casa Blanca, but ended up leaving empty handed.
Liga, winners of the 2009 Copa Sudamericana, looked to take full advantage of playing 2,850 metres above sea level in Quito, however, they were outplayed for large periods of the first half, as the visitors dominated possession.
Libertad controlled the flow of the match and almost went ahead in the 14th minute, but a good effort from Victor Caceres was saved by Liga goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez. Six minutes later Libertad were presented with another possibility to go ahead, but this time a shot from Victor Ayala was pushed out for a corner by Dominguez.
Moments later Libertad created their third goal-scoring opportunity, but Argentine midfielder Luciano Civelli shot off target from a corner-kick. Right before the break Caceres was presented with what looked a certain goal only to fire wide with the goal at his mercy.
After being completely dominated in the first half Liga picked up their game in the second, and should have gone ahead in the 63rd minute, but Paul Ambrossi was inaccurate with his finishing. Then, with ten minutes remaining on the clock Miller Bolanos wasted the best opportunity of the match when he fired the ball over the bar.
The game seemed destined for a goalless draw, however, a bizarre goal from Luis Bolanos on the stroke of full-time handed Liga an incredible victory. Midfielder Bolanos directed a seemingly harmless cross into the area from the left flank and to the amazement of the home fans the ball looped over a leaping Bernardo Medina before ending up in the back of the net.
Once again Liga proved that they are almost unbeatable when playing in the altitude of Quito. The Ecuadorians stunned Libertad with a freak-goal right at the conclusion of the match. While, Universidad de Chile demonstrated their strength with their third successive away win. La 'U' have yet to lose a match in the competition.
With draws from their return legs, Liga de Quito and Universidad de Chile will progress to the final four of the Copa Sudamericana. The return legs will be played on November 17.
Universidad de Chile have one foot in the semi-finals of the Copa Sudamericana after defeating Arsenal de Sarandi 2-1 in Buenos Aires on Thursday. The Chileans demonstrated that they continue to be the team to beat of the competition with another impressive display.
Arsenal tried to make the most of the fact that they were playing at home, and they pushed to the attack immediately from the kick-off. Within two minutes they had a good opportunity to go ahead, however, a fine header from Lisandro Lopez was brilliantly saved by Universidad goalkeeper Jhonny Herrera.
The Argentines piled heavy pressure on the visitors, and came close to scoring through another two successive headers, this time from Diego Torres and Juan Pablo Caffa. But to the frustration of the home fans they were kept at bay by Herrera.
From the run of play and when on a rare attack Universidad took a surprise lead, when Eduardo Vargas slotted the ball home on the stroke of half-time. The goal should have been disallowed because Vargas scored from an offside position.
However, Arsenal went back on level terms one minute into the second half, when Mauro Obolo capitalised on a defensive error from Universidad midfielder Matias Rodriguez.
Arsenal, who lifted the Copa Sudamericana in 2007, created several opportunities to go in front, however, they were very imprecise when it came to finishing. They were made to pay for their lack of finishing when Gustavo Canales fired home a penalty kick in the 81st minute to hand Universidad an unlikely victory.
A bizarre injury-time goal from Luis Bolanos snatched Liga de Quito a valuable 1-0 victory over Libertad in the first leg of the quarter-finals of the Copa Sudamericana on Thursday. Libertad were on the verge of capturing a precious draw from their visit to La Casa Blanca, but ended up leaving empty handed.
Liga, winners of the 2009 Copa Sudamericana, looked to take full advantage of playing 2,850 metres above sea level in Quito, however, they were outplayed for large periods of the first half, as the visitors dominated possession.
Libertad controlled the flow of the match and almost went ahead in the 14th minute, but a good effort from Victor Caceres was saved by Liga goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez. Six minutes later Libertad were presented with another possibility to go ahead, but this time a shot from Victor Ayala was pushed out for a corner by Dominguez.
Moments later Libertad created their third goal-scoring opportunity, but Argentine midfielder Luciano Civelli shot off target from a corner-kick. Right before the break Caceres was presented with what looked a certain goal only to fire wide with the goal at his mercy.
After being completely dominated in the first half Liga picked up their game in the second, and should have gone ahead in the 63rd minute, but Paul Ambrossi was inaccurate with his finishing. Then, with ten minutes remaining on the clock Miller Bolanos wasted the best opportunity of the match when he fired the ball over the bar.
The game seemed destined for a goalless draw, however, a bizarre goal from Luis Bolanos on the stroke of full-time handed Liga an incredible victory. Midfielder Bolanos directed a seemingly harmless cross into the area from the left flank and to the amazement of the home fans the ball looped over a leaping Bernardo Medina before ending up in the back of the net.
