Internacional of Porto Alegre draw first blood with a narrow victory over Once Caldas in the qualification stage of the Copa Libertadores.
As is generally the case in the Copa Libertadores, all of Wednesday's first round qualification matches were won by the hosts. However, the victories came at a cost, as they were by the slightest of margins, leaving all three ties completely wide open ahead of the return legs next week.
In the battle between two former Libertadores champions, Brazil's Internacional did just enough to dispatch of Once Caldas of Colombia with a well-deserved 1-0 victory in Porto Alegre.
Flamengo, Brazil's most popular club, understandably couldn't cope with the effects of the 4,000 metre altitude in their 2-1 defeat to Real Potosi in Bolivia.
While, Chilean outfit Union Espanola enjoyed a hard-worked 1-0 win over Mexican champions Tigres in Santa Laura, Santiago.
A 57th minute strike from Gonzalo Barriga was the difference as Union Espanola edged Tigre 1-0 in an evenly matched clash in Santiago.
Tigre arrived in the Chilean capital with a side plagued by reserves, but this didn't keep them from dominating their opponents for large periods of the encounter.
The Mexicans almost went ahead in the 9th minute when American attacker Jonathan Bornstein received a right-sided cross from Fernando Navarro, but fired the ball over the bar from close-range.
Just moments before the interval, Barriga almost put Union Espanola ahead when his powerful header flew inches over the crossbar.
Barriga made amends for his earlier miss in the 57th minute, when he put his side in front with a simple close-range finish following a Sebastian Jaime cross.
In the dying moments of the match Tigres almost snatched a draw with a sweetly-struck Jesus Duenas shot, but the effort flashed agonisingly wide.
Internacional edged Once Caldas 1-0 at the Beira-Rio stadium in Porto Alegre, to take a minimal advantage into the return leg of the tie that will be played in Manizales next week.
The only goal of the match was converted by Inter's Brazilian international Leandro Damiao in the 12th minute, when he beat Once Caldas goalkeeper Luis Martinez with a delicate touch after being sent through on goal by Argentine playmaker Andres D'Alessandro.
D'Alessandro, who was in stunning form, almost doubled his team's advantage on the half hour mark with a powerful long-range drive, that was kept out by a spectacular Martinez save.
Once Caldas picked up their game in the second period, and dominated ball possession for large moments. Although they created problems for the Inter defence, they couldn't find a way past goalkeeper Muriel.
The result leaves everything wide open for the return leg in Colombia on February 1. According to reports D'Alessandro may have played his last match for the Brazilians, as there are great chances that he could accept a lucrative offer to join a Chinese club.
Real Potosi came from behind to beat Flamengo 2-1 in an entertaining encounter played at very high altitude at the Agustin Ugarte stadium in Potosi.
Flamengo, who spent a week in Bolivia in order to acclimatise themselves to the 4,000 metre altitude of Potosi, silenced the home crowd when in the 29th minute Leo Moura found Luiz Antonio unmarked inside of the area, and the midfielder fired the ball home.
But their joy lasted shortly, as three minutes later Claudio Centurion drew the Bolivians level when he connected to a Roly Sejas free-kick with a bullet-like header.
Flamengo commenced the second period with the clear intention to earn back their lead, with Ronaldinho at the centre of the action, while Potosi on the other hand seemed happy to slow down the pace of the game and hold onto the draw.
But in the 57th minute Real Potosi captain Rosauro Rivero caught out Edgardo Britez with a precise pass, and the Argentine beat Flamengo goalkeeper Felipe with a fine header.
The Bolivians peppered the Flamengo goal in the final instances of the match, but had to settle for a minimal advantage ahead of the return leg in Rio de Janeiro.
In the battle between two former Libertadores champions, Brazil's Internacional did just enough to dispatch of Once Caldas of Colombia with a well-deserved 1-0 victory in Porto Alegre.
Flamengo, Brazil's most popular club, understandably couldn't cope with the effects of the 4,000 metre altitude in their 2-1 defeat to Real Potosi in Bolivia.
While, Chilean outfit Union Espanola enjoyed a hard-worked 1-0 win over Mexican champions Tigres in Santa Laura, Santiago.
A 57th minute strike from Gonzalo Barriga was the difference as Union Espanola edged Tigre 1-0 in an evenly matched clash in Santiago.
Tigre arrived in the Chilean capital with a side plagued by reserves, but this didn't keep them from dominating their opponents for large periods of the encounter.
The Mexicans almost went ahead in the 9th minute when American attacker Jonathan Bornstein received a right-sided cross from Fernando Navarro, but fired the ball over the bar from close-range.
Just moments before the interval, Barriga almost put Union Espanola ahead when his powerful header flew inches over the crossbar.
Barriga made amends for his earlier miss in the 57th minute, when he put his side in front with a simple close-range finish following a Sebastian Jaime cross.
In the dying moments of the match Tigres almost snatched a draw with a sweetly-struck Jesus Duenas shot, but the effort flashed agonisingly wide.
Internacional edged Once Caldas 1-0 at the Beira-Rio stadium in Porto Alegre, to take a minimal advantage into the return leg of the tie that will be played in Manizales next week.
The only goal of the match was converted by Inter's Brazilian international Leandro Damiao in the 12th minute, when he beat Once Caldas goalkeeper Luis Martinez with a delicate touch after being sent through on goal by Argentine playmaker Andres D'Alessandro.
D'Alessandro, who was in stunning form, almost doubled his team's advantage on the half hour mark with a powerful long-range drive, that was kept out by a spectacular Martinez save.
Once Caldas picked up their game in the second period, and dominated ball possession for large moments. Although they created problems for the Inter defence, they couldn't find a way past goalkeeper Muriel.
The result leaves everything wide open for the return leg in Colombia on February 1. According to reports D'Alessandro may have played his last match for the Brazilians, as there are great chances that he could accept a lucrative offer to join a Chinese club.
Real Potosi came from behind to beat Flamengo 2-1 in an entertaining encounter played at very high altitude at the Agustin Ugarte stadium in Potosi.
Flamengo, who spent a week in Bolivia in order to acclimatise themselves to the 4,000 metre altitude of Potosi, silenced the home crowd when in the 29th minute Leo Moura found Luiz Antonio unmarked inside of the area, and the midfielder fired the ball home.
But their joy lasted shortly, as three minutes later Claudio Centurion drew the Bolivians level when he connected to a Roly Sejas free-kick with a bullet-like header.
Flamengo commenced the second period with the clear intention to earn back their lead, with Ronaldinho at the centre of the action, while Potosi on the other hand seemed happy to slow down the pace of the game and hold onto the draw.
But in the 57th minute Real Potosi captain Rosauro Rivero caught out Edgardo Britez with a precise pass, and the Argentine beat Flamengo goalkeeper Felipe with a fine header.
The Bolivians peppered the Flamengo goal in the final instances of the match, but had to settle for a minimal advantage ahead of the return leg in Rio de Janeiro.
