Copa Libertadores Wednesday: Internacional Draw Emelec, Estudiantes Embarrassed By Cruzeiro

San Luis looked to be in position to get at least a point from Club Libertad at home in their Copa Libertadores Group 1 encounter, but faltered in the end to drop all three in the opening match of their Copa campaign. A dead even first half proceeded a second half where Libertad were the better side, culminating in them earning a penalty kick that would ultimately decide the game.

The first two goals were scored on headers from set pieces, with Nicolas Pavlovich and Juan Manuel Cavallo converting. The game failed to produce an open play goal, as the winner was also scored from a dead ball opportunity. In the 53rd minute, San Luis goalkeeper Cesar Lozano hauled down Manuel Maciel in the box, for which Libertad were granted a penalty and Lozano was shown a yellow card. Sergio Aquino stepped up and converted, sealing a vital away win for Libertad.

San Luis and Club Libertad have come to put on a show tonight in Copa Libertadores, playing a great, even game full of exciting attacking play, intelligent tactics, competent defending, and good finishing. Really, it’s been about anything that a fan could reasonably ask from a football game. With the way both teams are playing, it’s tough to predict what’s going to happen in the second half. Both teams have a very good chance at winning the game.

Both goals were very good headers, scored off of set pieces. Libertad scored the opener off of a 45 yard indirect free kick, headed in by Nicolas Pavlovich as he rose high above the San Luis defense. The home team would equalize just before halftime, with Juan Manuel Cavallo, who entered the game in the 31st minute for the injured Othoniel Arce, doing his best Pavlovich impression, scoring a great header to tie the score up at 1-1.

Velez Sarsfield midfielder David Ramirez did all of the hard things right. Average players don’t know exactly how to time deep runs from midfield into the penalty area. Despite his brilliance on the run and his being in the exact right place at the exact right time, the Copa Libertadores match between Velez and Caracas is still 0-0. How? I’m still asking myself exactly that. My only explanation is that David Ramirez is the unluckiest man in the world.

Ramirez’s inability to score was so unbelievable, the Fox Sports Español camera operators, announcers, and producers can’t stop zooming in on his face, talking about him, and showing the replay over and over and over. Late in the first half, around the 33rd minute, Ramirez made a spectacular near post run from midfield, on the left side of the penalty area. He hit a cross with a powerful header, which was incredibly saved by David Gonzalez. The rebound fell to Ramirez and he hit a great first time volley, only to strike the post. Somehow, two extremely clear cut chances managed to not result in goals.