Universidad de Chile are on the verge of winning the Copa Sudamericana after ousting Liga de Quito in the first leg of the final on Thursday.
Universidad de Chile defeated Liga de Quito of Ecuador 1-0 in the first leg of the final of the 2011 Copa Sudamericana at the Casa Blanca stadium in Quito on Thursday. With the result, the Chileans only need a draw in Santiago next week to win the first international title in their 84-year history.
The only goal of the match was converted by Universidad de Chile striker Eduardo Vargas right before the half-time whistle.
Universidad de Chile pushed to the attack immediately from the kick-off as they searched for an early goal in the thin air of the Ecuadorian capital, which sits at 2,850 metres above sea level. They looked very dangerous each time they pushed forward down the flanks, unsettling the vulnerable Liga defense with their speed.
Liga, winners of the 2009 Copa Sudamericana, picked up their game as the half progressed and mounted their first worthwhile attack on the Liga goal in the 18th minute with Argentine striker Claudio Bieler having his shot saved by Universidad goalkeeper Johnny Herrera.
Two minutes later Bieler had another attempt on goal, but his powerful shot flashed inches wide of the right post. Liga continued to bombard the visiting goal, with further efforts from Bieler and his Argentine strike-partner Hernan Barcos.
In the 41st minute Barcos wasted an incredible opportunity to open the scoring for Liga, when he met a precise cross from Ezequiel Gonzalez, made space for himself in the area but blasted the ball well over the crossbar.
Liga were made to rue their missed opportunities, as in the 43rd minute Vargas latched onto a smart through ball from Charles Aranguiz, sped past a slipping Norberto Araujo and goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez, before slotting the ball into an unguarded net to give the Chileans a surprise lead going into the break.
Two minutes into the second period Liga almost drew level when Luis Bolanos, who replaced Bieler in the interval, forced a brilliant save from Herrera with his venomous drive.
The game was played at an intense pace, with both sides breaking on swift counterattacks at every opportunity. Universidad would have doubled their lead in the 49th minute had Dominguez not kept out Vargas' goal-bound effort.
In the 67th minute Barcos, who scored all three of Liga's goals against Velez Sarsfield of Argentina in the semi-finals, could have drawn his side level but once again he failed to find the back of the net when he had the goal at his mercy.
Liga's final opportunity to find a goal arrived ten minutes from full-time, when a powerful header from Fernando Hidalgo was cleared out for a corner-kick by defender Jose Rojas. Immediately after the corner was taken, Universidad broke on a swift counterattack, leaving Matias Rodriguez clear on goal, but quite incredibly the defender squandered the opportunity by hitting the side-netting.
Having picked up a valuable win in Quito, Universidad de Chile only need a draw in Santiago next week to claim the first international title in their entire history.
The only goal of the match was converted by Universidad de Chile striker Eduardo Vargas right before the half-time whistle.
Universidad de Chile pushed to the attack immediately from the kick-off as they searched for an early goal in the thin air of the Ecuadorian capital, which sits at 2,850 metres above sea level. They looked very dangerous each time they pushed forward down the flanks, unsettling the vulnerable Liga defense with their speed.
Liga, winners of the 2009 Copa Sudamericana, picked up their game as the half progressed and mounted their first worthwhile attack on the Liga goal in the 18th minute with Argentine striker Claudio Bieler having his shot saved by Universidad goalkeeper Johnny Herrera.
Two minutes later Bieler had another attempt on goal, but his powerful shot flashed inches wide of the right post. Liga continued to bombard the visiting goal, with further efforts from Bieler and his Argentine strike-partner Hernan Barcos.
In the 41st minute Barcos wasted an incredible opportunity to open the scoring for Liga, when he met a precise cross from Ezequiel Gonzalez, made space for himself in the area but blasted the ball well over the crossbar.
Liga were made to rue their missed opportunities, as in the 43rd minute Vargas latched onto a smart through ball from Charles Aranguiz, sped past a slipping Norberto Araujo and goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez, before slotting the ball into an unguarded net to give the Chileans a surprise lead going into the break.
Two minutes into the second period Liga almost drew level when Luis Bolanos, who replaced Bieler in the interval, forced a brilliant save from Herrera with his venomous drive.
The game was played at an intense pace, with both sides breaking on swift counterattacks at every opportunity. Universidad would have doubled their lead in the 49th minute had Dominguez not kept out Vargas' goal-bound effort.
In the 67th minute Barcos, who scored all three of Liga's goals against Velez Sarsfield of Argentina in the semi-finals, could have drawn his side level but once again he failed to find the back of the net when he had the goal at his mercy.
Liga's final opportunity to find a goal arrived ten minutes from full-time, when a powerful header from Fernando Hidalgo was cleared out for a corner-kick by defender Jose Rojas. Immediately after the corner was taken, Universidad broke on a swift counterattack, leaving Matias Rodriguez clear on goal, but quite incredibly the defender squandered the opportunity by hitting the side-netting.
Having picked up a valuable win in Quito, Universidad de Chile only need a draw in Santiago next week to claim the first international title in their entire history.
