2011 Copa Libertadores Quarterfinals, Second Legs: Penarol And Cerro Porteno Both Advance

Cerro Porteno has done their best all Copa Libertadores long to make viewers hate football. They defend and defend and defend, never even pretending like they want to go forward. When opposing teams look like they might break them down, Cerro foul them. That is why it was such a relief when Cerro was up 1-0 right at the death of the first leg of their quarterfinal tie against Jaguares that Jaguares leveled to make the second leg interesting.

For Jaguares, they are in the midst of their own cinderella run. Nobody expected them to make it to the quarterfinals and while a draw at home in the first leg is usually a disappointment, getting it without the services of the suspended Jackson Martinez was impressive. Now Martinez is back and while Cerro are undoubtedly favorites, Jaguares have a chance to continue their amazing run to the semifinals.

Universidad Catolica were slight favorites to take down Penarol in the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals, but with the way the second leg of the tie played out the story will be on the match and not the upset. A thrilling tie turned in favor of Penarol after their won 2-0 at home in the first leg, but a pair of UC goals in the second leg leveled things and turned the momentum clearly in favor of the Chilean team. Penarol had no regard for momentum though, scoringjust five minutes from fulltime to to break a 2-2 tie on aggregate and book their place in the semifinals of the tournament.

It looked like Penarol would make it 3-0 on aggregate and get the vital away goal early in the match when Mathias Corujo cleverly flicked a cross on towards the backpost in the second minute. The shot looked goal bound, but Paulo Garces stretched to make a fantastic save and keep UC down just 2-0.

What’s more thrilling than a team pulling off a comeback in the knockout stages of a great tournament? How about a team coming back only to have the other team grab a winner five minutes from fulltime? That’s what it looks like will happen as Penarol have scored not long before the final whistle to go ahead 3-2 on aggregate in the quarterfinals of Copa Libertadores against Universidad Catolica.

Penatol entered the second leg ahead 2-0, but UC had come back to level the tie at 2-2. With five minutes to go and the match looking destined for penalty kicks though, Fabian Estoyanoff got on the end of a Carlos Valdez cross and finished to put a stake through the heart of UC and their boisterous supporters than have pushed them on all night. If Penarol can hold on for just five more minutes they will be through to the semifinals, but the way this match has gone holding on is far from a guarantee.

Back and forth. Penarol has come so close to getting the vital away goal and making things awfully difficult on Universidad Catolica so many times, but they haven’t gotten the goal they need. Meanwhile, UC have had chances too. It was the chance that didn’t look like much of one that has changed the tie. An outstanding individual play by Roberto Gutierrez got UC the goal they needed to go up 2-0 in the match and level the aggregate at 2-2 in this Copa Libertadores quarterfinal.

Gutierrez received the ball nearly 30 yards from goal with his back to goal, but expertly turned the defender, got an inch of space and unleashed a shot from 25 yards that left the goalkeeper helpless. It led to massive celebrations in the stands, complete with banners and flares. What it really did though was put this tie back on level terms and with both sides pressing forward, it should be a thrilling final 20 minutes.