Velez Sarsfield Vs. Penarol, 2011 Copa Libertadores: At 1-1, Penarol In Control At Halftime

Velez Sarsfield and Penarol are in the same place they started the match at, level, but the two-legged tie has turned even more in favor of the Uruguayans. Penarol began the match leading 1-0 on aggregate after taking care of business at home and they opened the scoring with a Matias Mier score. Fernando Tobio equalized for Velez and brought the aggregate score to 2-1, within striking distance, but Penarol already had the most vital of things, an away goal. With the match at halftime, Penarol just needs to see out the final 45 minutes and not give up two goals to advance to the final, where Santos F.C. is waiting.

Alejandro Martinuccio did the hard work for Penarol’s first goal, setting up Mier and sending the sizable traveling supporters clad in black and yellow into a frenzy. Penarol looked as if they had booked a spot in the final with Velez needing three goals to top the Uruguayans.

Velez pushed hard for those those three goals and got one of them just before halftime. They spent 10 minutes pressuring the Penarol goal, just missing time and time again, but finally they broke through. A free kick to the top of the six-yard box was put on goal, where it was saved. It bounced right into the path of Tobio though, who bundled it in and got Velez back in the tie.

It is a tie that has become filled with intensity and bad blood. Not long after the goal, Santiago Silva and Carlos Valdez got tangled up. Neither player appreciated the physicality and it turned into a pushing and shoving match with all of the players on the field involved.

That type of animosity is sure to carry over into the second half, where Velez will have to play with urgency. If they cannot manage a pair of goals, their Copa Libertadores will come to an end and Penarol will roll into the final.