The knockout stages of the 2011 Copa Libertadores are here. Velez Sarsfield vs. LDU Quito is Tuesday’s best match, while the marquee encounter features Neymar, Ganso, and co. leading their Santos FC side against Club America.
2011 Copa Libertadores, Round Of 16: Santos FC Defeat Club America, Cruzeiro Earn Win Over Once Caldas
Santos Vs. America, 2011 Copa Libertadores: 1-0 Halftime, Paulo Henrique Ganso Goal Has Hosts Up
Club America are a great attacking team with a poor defense, so it’s been slightly surprising that they’ve adopted a defensive strategy. They have played a 4-4-2 formation with all nine of the non-strikers behind the ball in order to keep Santos FC off the scoreboard, and they’ve failed to do so, as the home team leads 1-0 at halftime.
America did well to deny Santos great chances for most of the first half, but it was obvious that their strategy was not sustainable, due to a combination of Santos’s talent and America’s inexperience playing this style. Young star playmaker Paulo Henrique Ganso was the man who scored for Santos, hitting a fantastic low shot into the back of the net at the far post from 20 yards out.
Read Article >Once Caldas Vs. Cruzeiro: 0-0 At Halftime In Enthralling Match
It’s 0-0 at halftime in the first leg of Once Caldas’ clash with Cruzeiro in the Copa Libertadores Round of Sixteen. Most 0-0 games are fairly boring affairs, but not this one - this is two teams going all-out at each other and being denied by great goalkeeping, bad lucks, and the woodwork. Within the first couple of minutes, Cruzeiro’s Brandao saw a goalbound shot kept out magnificently by Luis Enrique Martinez, and before too long the hosts replied, with the excellent Dayro Moreno almost destroying the frame of the goal with a glorious long range effort before Fabio kept a stinging shot out when Moreno seemed certain to score.
There’ve been plenty of other close calls, with Fabio particularly hard-worked in the Cruzeiro goal. He’s had to be alert for most of the first half and has kept his side level with a series of very good saves, but by the same measure the visitors could easily be ahead if not for some awful finishing and some bad luck from the linesman’s flag. It’s a great game so far in Colombia, and hopefully there’s more in store in the second half.
Read Article >Jaguares Chiapas Vs. Atletico Junior: Lineups
It’s Copa Libertadores time again, with Jaguares taking on Atletico Junior in the first leg of their Round of Sixteen match, held in Chiapas. Here’s the lowdown from our friends at FMF State of Mind:
And lineups, too!
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