Copa Libertadores neutrals will be thrilled to see that Sao Paulo thoroughly crushed Bolivar on Wednesday night, and that they’ll be heading into the group stage. A group that featured two Bolivian sides probably wouldn’t have made for the best viewing. In the much more even first round tie that got underway on Wednesday night, former champions LDU Quito put themselves in a solid position heading into the second leg.
Copa Libertadores 2013: Sao Paulo already safely through, LDU Quito defend home turf
Sao Paulo 5-0 Bolivar
Ouch. Poor Bolivar. The best part of this game was the same thing as the best part of any game where Sao Paulo get a penalty: Watching goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni take a penalty. The gap in quality between the two sides became abundantly clear in the 8th minute, when Osvaldo smoked a 20-yard shot into the top corner. Luis Fabiano scored a brace and Jadson added a goal before Rogerio Ceni’s penalty.
By the way, Jadson and Luis Fabiano chose not to play in Europe anymore, because that’s a reasonable choice now. The Brasileirao is cool.
LDU Quito 1-0 Gremio
Is a one-goal lead going to be enough for LDU Quito when they head to Brazil? Maybe not, but they won’t be dissatisfied with the result they squeaked out against Gremio in the home leg of their tie. The Ecuadorians were the much more ambitious side on the night, and their positive play finally paid off in the 76th minute, with a goal from Carlos Feraud. He applied a finish at the end of a mad scramble, which featured a a strike of the crossbar by Enrique Vera and a follow-up attempt that was blocked off the line.
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