Once Caldas Vs. Cruzeiro, 2011 Copa Libertadores: Cruzeiro Earn 2-1 Win In Colombia

It was a brilliant game of football, and Cruzeiro snuck an away win in the end after the first half had ended scoreless. It was the sort of match that suggested 0-0 wasn’t going to be the final score, however, with Once Caldas in particular desperately unlucky not to go into the interval ahead, having hit the crossbar and tested Cruzeiro goalkeeper Fabio several times. However, when the goal finally did come in the late stages of the second half, it was the visitors who grabbed it.

Cruzerio were able to exploit some crazy defending when Once Caldas right back Elkin Calle decided to run off to the centre, leaving the away side with an overload on their left. Substitute Jose Ortigoza swung in a cross, and with the defence again getting sucked into the middle Wallyson was able to sneak in at the far post and plant a firm header beyond Luis Enrique Martinez. Better was to come from the Brazilians, however, and the second goal was absolutely brilliant. Walter Montillo split the defence with a lovely through pass, and Ortigoza timed his run to perfection, going one on one with Martinez and beating the goalkeeper with the most delicate of chips. 2-0 Cruzeiro, and the tie looekd over.

Not so fast, though. Once Caldas had more tricks up their collective sleeve. Dayro Moreno, who was excellent in the first half, but not so much in the second, blazed over from several promising positions, frustrating the home fans, but they finally got the goal their performance deserved thanks to a bizarre goal in the 88th minute scored by defender Luis Nunez, who was at the far post to head a cross from Renteria... straight at the post, actually. The ball hit the bottom of the post, bounced off the legs of a startled Cruzeiro player and trickled over the line before Fabio could hurl the ball out of the goal. The referee gave it, and Once Caldas proceeded to bombard the Cruzeiro area, but failed to earn another clear-cut opportunity, and the game eventually finished 2-1.

2-1 is a lot closer than anyone would have expected going into the match, however, and Once Caldas can be very pleased at their performance today. Although Cruzeiro very much have the advantage in this Round of Sixteen clash, the hosts did themselves proud. The match as a whole was an excellent advertisement for the tournament.