Liga de Quito and Universidad de Chile reached the semi-finals of the Copa Sudamericana in contrasting manners.
Universidad de Chile and Liga de Quito of Ecuador advanced to the semi-finals of the Copa Sudamericana after seeing off Arsenal de Sarandi of Argentina and Libertad of Paraguay in their respective quarter-final match-ups.
While the Chileans breezed past Arsenal with a comprehensive 3-0 victory, Liga, winners of the competition in 2009, needed a penalty shoot-out in order to overcome Libertad and progress to the final four.
In the semi-finals, Universidad de Chile lock horns with Brazilian side Vasco da Gama, while Liga de Quito will take on Velez Sarsfield of Argentina. Both match-ups are expected to be action-packed due to the quality of the four sides.
Liga de Quito of Ecuador advanced to the semi-finals of the Copa Sudamericana after defeating Libertad of Paraguay 5-4 on penalty kicks, despite losing 1-0 in regular time.
Pablo Velazquez scored the only goal of the match in the 90th minute, to put the series level with a 1-1 deadlock after 120 minutes, but Libertad went on to lose the shoot-out.
Libertad started the stronger of the two sides, piling heavy pressure on the visiting goal as they searched for an early goal that would tie the series. They came close to scoring with an effort that hit the post in the 4th minute, and moments later Liga de Quito goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez pulled off a fine save to deny William Mendieta.
In the second period Libertad continued to pressure the Liga goal and they looked extremely dangerous each time they moved forward, particularly down the flanks. They came close to scoring through two free-kicks, first from Ignacio Canuto and then from Sergio Aquino.
Their pressure finally paid off in the 90th minute when Velazquez beat Dominguez with an unstoppable header, to force a penalty shoot-out. Liga de Quito went on to win the shoot-out 5-4, with Dominguez saving Maciel's spot-kick.
Liga de Quito advanced to the semi-finals of the competition for the third straight year, where they will meet Velez Sarsfield of Argentina.
Universidad de Chile thrashed Arsenal de Sarandi of Argentina 3-0 in Santiago to reach the semi-finals of the competition, where they will meet Vasco da Gama of Brazil.
The Chilean giants completely outplayed their opponents and won the game courtesy of goals from Eduardo Vargas, Francisco Castro and Gustavo Canales.
It only took ten minutes for Universidad to open the scoring, when Vargas slotted the ball into the back of the net after beating the Arsenal offside trap. Castro doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time, with a good finish from a Vargas ball.
Arsenal, who had lost 2-1 in Avellaneda last week, pushed to the attack as they looked to pull a goal back, however, they were out of luck as in the 55th minute Canales took advantage of a horrible defensive error to add a third goal for the Chileans.
Universidad de Chile have been in extraordinary form in the competition, as not only are they undefeated in eight games, but they have scored a staggering 14 goals and have only conceded a mere two.
While the Chileans breezed past Arsenal with a comprehensive 3-0 victory, Liga, winners of the competition in 2009, needed a penalty shoot-out in order to overcome Libertad and progress to the final four.
In the semi-finals, Universidad de Chile lock horns with Brazilian side Vasco da Gama, while Liga de Quito will take on Velez Sarsfield of Argentina. Both match-ups are expected to be action-packed due to the quality of the four sides.
Liga de Quito of Ecuador advanced to the semi-finals of the Copa Sudamericana after defeating Libertad of Paraguay 5-4 on penalty kicks, despite losing 1-0 in regular time.
Pablo Velazquez scored the only goal of the match in the 90th minute, to put the series level with a 1-1 deadlock after 120 minutes, but Libertad went on to lose the shoot-out.
Libertad started the stronger of the two sides, piling heavy pressure on the visiting goal as they searched for an early goal that would tie the series. They came close to scoring with an effort that hit the post in the 4th minute, and moments later Liga de Quito goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez pulled off a fine save to deny William Mendieta.
In the second period Libertad continued to pressure the Liga goal and they looked extremely dangerous each time they moved forward, particularly down the flanks. They came close to scoring through two free-kicks, first from Ignacio Canuto and then from Sergio Aquino.
Their pressure finally paid off in the 90th minute when Velazquez beat Dominguez with an unstoppable header, to force a penalty shoot-out. Liga de Quito went on to win the shoot-out 5-4, with Dominguez saving Maciel's spot-kick.
Liga de Quito advanced to the semi-finals of the competition for the third straight year, where they will meet Velez Sarsfield of Argentina.
Universidad de Chile thrashed Arsenal de Sarandi of Argentina 3-0 in Santiago to reach the semi-finals of the competition, where they will meet Vasco da Gama of Brazil.
The Chilean giants completely outplayed their opponents and won the game courtesy of goals from Eduardo Vargas, Francisco Castro and Gustavo Canales.
It only took ten minutes for Universidad to open the scoring, when Vargas slotted the ball into the back of the net after beating the Arsenal offside trap. Castro doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time, with a good finish from a Vargas ball.
Arsenal, who had lost 2-1 in Avellaneda last week, pushed to the attack as they looked to pull a goal back, however, they were out of luck as in the 55th minute Canales took advantage of a horrible defensive error to add a third goal for the Chileans.
Universidad de Chile have been in extraordinary form in the competition, as not only are they undefeated in eight games, but they have scored a staggering 14 goals and have only conceded a mere two.
