Velez Sarsfield Vs. Libertad, 2011 Copa Libertadores: Moralez Has Velez Ahead At Half

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.

Just because Velez has been sound at the back doesn’t mean they have been content to take a 1-0 win. They have found opportunities to push forward and had themselves a decent penalty shout just before halftime, but the it was waved off by the referee.

Meanwhile, Libertad has done a decent job in the midfield and hasn’t given Velez too many chances, but they’ve struggled to do much in the final third. Time after time they knocked the ball around in the middle, got into the final third and then gave it away trying to make the near-impossible pass. A 1-0 loss wouldn’t be too poor of a result for Libertad, but if they are to lose by a goal, they would much rather at least have an away goal to their name.