2011 Copa Libertadores Quarterfinals: Velez Trounces Libertad, 3-0; Jaguares Snatch Late Draw

The first half was as awful as can be and the second half was awful, just not as awful. In the end, Cerro Porteno got a somewhat fortunate goal answered by Jaguares just before the final whistle for a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores quarterfinal in Chiapas. Now all Cerro has to do is get a draw at home in next week’s second leg and they are through to the semifinals despite playing as boring football as anyone will see.

Jaguares played without their best player, Jackson Martinez, as he sat with with suspension and while they tried to attack, they struggled to beat a Cerro team committed to defending above all. Cerro just had no interesting in taking the slightest of chances, preferring to put all but one player behind the ball for most of the match.

If you hate football, the first leg of the Copa Libertadores quarterfinal between Jaguares and Cerro Porteno is probably why. The two teams are tied at 0-0 at halftime in Chiapas, Mexico without either side really doing anything that resembles attacking. A couple fouls 30 yards from goal is the only thing that has resembled a dangerous attack.

Jaguares are the cinderella team from Mexico who frankly, are not not as good as the top teams in the tournament. They’ve found a way to advance though and are the team that most neutrals will be drawn to. The problem is that they are a step below and tonight are playing without Jackson Martinez, who is out with a suspension. An underdog playing without their best player will probably be limited.

Things continue to get worse for Libertad. Down 1-0 at half they would have be happy enough to take that scoreline and go home for the second leg of the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals in search of a two-goal win to advance. Instead, they gave away a penalty that made it 2-0 and now some beautiful attacking football by Velez, hesitant defending and poor goalkeeping has pushed that lead to 3-0 with Libertad looking sunk and Velez on to the semifinals.

Velez broke quickly and got the ball to Juan Manuel Martinez, who scored the penalty for Velez. He played the ball to RIcardo Alvarez, who has been a handful and a half for Libertad and he proved to be once again. The exciting midfielder played a perfect ball back to Martinez who was in on goal and struck the ball with a ton of pace. As much pace as it had, it was right at Tobias Vargas. Vargas only got a weak hand to it though and the ball went over the line for what might be the nail in Libertad’s coffin.

Juan Manuel Martinez had his hand in Velez Sarsfield’s first goal, dummying a low cross for Maxi Moralez to finish in the first half. This time he finished a penalty to put the Argentinean side up 2-0 in the first leg of this Copa Libertadores quarterfinal. Two goals up and having not given up an away goal, Velez are in a great spot. If this result holds, they can go to Libertad for the second leg, lose by a goal and still advance on to the semifinals.

The penalty was clear as day and the referee did not hesitate in the slightest to point to the spot. While Velez did not have a clear chance at goal, they had passed the ball into the box and a slight side-step caught a defender clumsily reaching for a tackle. The attacker went down, the referee pointed to the spot and Martinez went left with the penalty while keeper went right and Velez were up 2-0.

Through 45 minutes, Velez Sarsfield are in a good position of their Copa Libertadores quarterfinal tie against Libertad. The Argentinean side got a goal from Maxi Moralez to go ahead of the Paraguayans and have held on to that lead going into half. The two keys for the home side in the first leg of a two-legged tie is to win and keep the opponents scoreless so as to keep the edge in away goals and to this point Velez has done that.

The Velez goal started with Augusto Fernandez, who was fouled and hit the turf, but he popped up quickly and continued on with the ball while the referee played advantage. Fernandez played in a good low cross towards Juan Manuel Martinez. Instead of playing the cross though, Martinez dummied, leaving it for Moralez, who was all alone with the keeper nowhere to be found and finished to put the home side up a goal in the 20th minute.

The 2011 Copa Libertadores is down to the quarterfinal stage, and while some giants have been upset, the competition still includes two of the most in form teams in all of South America. Both Velez Sarsfield and Universidad Catolica top the table in their domestic leagues, and they were both extremely impressive in the last round of this competition. Along with the likes of Santos FC of Brazil, they make up a strong final eight that should produce some entertaining action.

Peñarol Vs. Universidad Catolica