Copa Libertadores 2012, Matchday 5: Tuesday Recap, All Five Home Teams Win

The world’s wackiest high-level club competition was anything but on Tuesday, though there were plenty of red cards. In the five Copa Libertadores games on Tuesday, all five home sides emerged victorious. Nacional of Paraguay and Lanus both made things more difficult than they should have been, while all of Internacional, Alianza Lima and Chivas Guadalajara coasted to simple wins.

That period of time where The Strongest was a viable contender for a Copa Libertadores knockout stage place sure was fun. They were brought down a peg on Tuesday by Internacional and their superstar striker Leandro Damiao, who netted a hat trick. Dagoberto netted in the 3rd minute, which was followed by a 6th minute goal by Damiao that effectively ended the game. They scored three more for funsies. Jo closed out the scoring in the 80th minute. Dagoberto’s goal, scored with a chested control and a volley, was the best of the bunch.

Emelec did very well to stay in this game for 71 minutes. In the 36th minute, Emelec defender Carlos Quiñónez was shown a straight red card for a foul on Mariano Pavone. Lanus was well on top after that, but it took until the 71st minute for them to net the winner. Diego Valeri set up the goal with a terrific cross into the path of Pavone at the far post, and he hit a powerful shot into the roof of the net from point-blank range to give his team all three points.

Is it possible to look ahead to a game you’re not playing in? Perhaps that’s what Nacional were caught doing on Tuesday. Regardless of the result of Wednesday’s massive Vasco da Gama - Libertad game, both teams will probably exit as favorites to advance, thanks to Nacional’s loss to a previously poor Alianza Lima team. José Fernández netted the winner in the 15th minute with a close-range header, as he found himself completely unmarked on a cross by Johnnier Montaño. Nacional would go on to have two players sent off. Israel Damonte will be suspended for the next leg after picking up two yellow cards, while Diego Placente’s straight red should keep him out for two games.

There’s no shame in losing to Nacional on the road, but Deportivo Tachira could have ended their own tournament with the way they did it. Jackson Clavijo and Pedro Fernandez picked up straight red cards, and their suspensions will seriously hinder Deportivo Tachira going forward. Fernandez scored a shocking opening goal, but the visitors’ lead was erased when German Cano converted a penalty, following Clavijo’s sending off for denial of a goal scoring opportunity after he handled the ball on the line. Cano put his team up from open play in the 72nd minute, but Ángel Meider Chourio netted a shock equalizer in the 79th minute. Two minutes later, Silvio Torales answered with the winner, powering in a low shot from 10 yards after a cross was deflected back towards the edge of the Tachira penalty area. Fernandez’ sending off happened in the 86th minute.

In a game devoid of chances, young star striker Carlos Fierro finished one of just two shots on target for either team. The young star netted in the 10th minute with a brilliant header, getting his head around a great cross by Julio Nava and placing the ball into the side netting. Chivas did not allow Defensor to get a single shot on target in the match, and the Uruguayan side is now bottom of Group 7.