Copa Libertadores 2013, Tuesday recap: La U among the big winners

Newell’s Old Boys are in a bit of trouble in Group 8 of Copa Libertadores, though not quite as much trouble as they could be in. They lose at home to Universidad de Chile on Tuesday night, but are just one point out of a knockout stage place after CD Lara held Olimpia to a draw. In the other three matches played on Tuesday night, the favorites came out on top.

A new-look La U side is finally coming into their own. Guillermo Marino got his team off to a brilliant start, finishing off a brilliant move created by Gustavo Lorenzetti in the 3rd minute. They doubled their lead in the 16th minute after Charles Aranguiz converted a penalty won by Sebastian Ubilla. An Ignacio Scocco free kick got Newell’s back into the game, but they never found an equalizer. Gabriel Heinze was sent off in the 70th minute for Newell’s and Jose Rojas got a red of his own for La U just six minutes later.

When Fredy Bareiro put Olimpa ahead of CD Lara at home, a win seemed likely for the home side. When he added a second goal just after the halftime break, you could have bet your house on it. Incredibly, the underdogs from Venezuela pulled off yet another stunning upset by clawing back for a point. Even though they didn’t win, the circumstances -- away instead of home, going down by two goals in the second half -- make this draw an even bigger accomplishment than their win over Newell’s. Marlon Fernandez netted his team’s first goal in the 70th minute with a stellar curled strike and Jose Torrealba netted the equalizer in the 86th minute with a stellar volley off a chipped ball into the box.

This was a bit harder than it should have been for the Colombian champions, but they’ll take their first three points. Pedro Franco put them up early with a powerful header, but Carlos Saucedo pulled a goal back for the visitors just before the halftime break. Renteria won the match for the hosts, finishing off a counter in the 80th minute.

This group is really bad and horrible and dumb and doesn’t make any sense, because the bad teams have been losing at home and winning away. Caracas broke the trend, however, by getting stomped in Brazil. Hernan Barcos netted in the 16th minute and this one was over quickly. Elonai Sanchez scored a 59th minute consolation goal to make it 3-1, but Ze Roberto put the visitors in their place with his second of the night in the 71st minute, rounding out the scoring.

Iquique completely outplayed Emelec in their 2-0 win in Chile, but those three points remain their only three points in the Copa Libertadores. Marlon Pavon scored the first goal of the night for Emelec on a corner, and Vinicio Angulo made it 2-0 in the 74th minute. Manuel Villalobos hauled one back for Iquique four minutes later, capitalizing on some terrible defending and goalkeeping, but the Chileans couldn’t find a second goal.