P	W	D	L	F	A	PTS
Vasco da Gama	6	4	1	1	12	7	13
America de Cali	6	2	2	2	6	4	8
Penarol		6	2	1	3	8	11	7
Depor Tachira	6	2	0	4	11	15	6

RED = Qualified For Round of Last 16


4 MAY 2001

CRUZ AZUL 3 : Gutiérrez 63, Morales 70, Palencia 89
OLMEDO 1 : González 35

The result of the other group match meant that a victory would qualify
Olmedo to the next stage. The Ecuadorian side made a good start, but in the
second half they tired, and allowed Cruz Azul to turn the game around. Good
for São Caetano.

DEFENSOR SPORTING 0
SÃO CAETANO 1 : Ailton 34

São Caetano played the great escape in the last day of matches in the first
stage, so all four Brazilian teams managed to qualify to the round of 16.
Watch out for the intriguing matchup between São Caetano and Palmeiras.
both teams met in the quarterfinals of the Brazilian Championship last year,
where the 'Azulão' stunned Palmeiras.


19 APRIL 2001

SÃO CAETANO 3 : Adãozinho 19, César 29, 79
OLMEDO 0

São Caetano didn't play well, but got what they needed: a victory, which
keeps their qualification hopes alive. The home side attacked from the
start, and managed to open the scoring in the 19th minute. César, the man of
the match, sent a perfect cross from the left side, Adãozinho got the ball
face to face with the keeper and scored. Ten minutes later, the Brazilian
team doubled their lead, with a great goal by César, who scored from a very
tight angle. Olmedo dominated the second half, but the visitors weren't able
to score. On the other hand, São Caetano made good use of their chances,
with César making it 3x0.


12 APRIL 2001

DEFENSOR SPORTING 3 : Márcio Cruz 24, 47, Silva 87
CRUZ AZUL 2 : Marín 56, Begines 75

Defensor needed all three points and they were determined to get them.
From the start, the home team pressed forward, and their first goal came
in the 24th minute, when Fadeuille found Márcio Cruz inside the box, and the
Brazilian forward scored with a crossed shot. And it was Márcio Cruz who
doubled Defensor's lead early in the second half, with a potent long-range
shot. But Cruz Azul wasn't dead, and they pulled one goal back in the 56th
minute, with Marín scoring from a 45-yard free kick (the ball went in thanks
to a mistake by goalkeeper Baleato). The goal motivated the Mexican side,
which pressed forward and got the equalizer in the 75th minute, with Begines
heading home a cross from the left side. But with three minutes remaining,
Defensor scored the game-winner. It was a marvelous bicycle kick by
Santiago Silva, sending the ball in the top left corner of the goal.


6 APRIL 2001

SÃO CAETANO 0
DEFENSOR SPORTING 0

This is the end of the dream for tiny São Caetano. In spite of having easy
opponents, they managed just two points in four matches, showing that they
are still not mature for international competition. The Brazilian side has a
chance of qualifying, but will need a miracle.


21 MARCH 2001

CRUZ AZUL 1 : Mora 85
SÃO CAETANO 0

São Caetano once again displayed their attacking football, but they were
guilty of spoiling too many chances. The Brazilian side should have scored
on many occasions, while the Mexican team was also very dangerous in the
counter attacks. For the third time in their participation in the
Libertadores, São Caetano allowed a goal in the final minutes of the match.
This time, the executioner was Mora. The final five minutes were frantic.
First, São Caetano had a great scoring chance spoiled by an inexistent
offside. Then, Cruz Azul was correctly awarded a penalty kick, but Mora's
shot hit the crossbar.


15 MARCH 2001

OLMEDO 2 : Mercado 8, Brito 90
SÃO CAETANO 1 : Aílton 60

São Caetano will hold bad memories of their first ever official match
outside of Brazil. Olmedo opened the scoring early, thanks to a great
long-range shot by Mercado. São Caetano courageously went to the attack,
and tied the match in the 60th minute, with Aílton completing a great passing
play. But it was not São Caetano's night. Olmedo mounted a late rally, and
got the decisive goal in the final minute of regulation, with Brito.


7 MARCH 2001

OLMEDO 4 : Gómez 15, Maldonado 28, 54, González 63
DEFENSOR 2 : Liguera 24, Pérez 72

Olmedo avenged their 3x2 loss against Defensor in their debut in the
Libertadores cup with this convincing victory. The home side opened the
scoring in the 15th minute. Paredes and Chérrez made a nice passing play,
which left Julio César Gómez in front of the goalkeeper, who could to
nothing to prevent the goal. Defensor was not dead yet, and they tied the
match after the referee awarded them a dubious penalty kick, which was
converted by Liguera. But soon Olmedo regained the lead, with a goal by
Edison Maldonado. The Equatorian side pressed forward, but was unable to
score again in the first half due to the good showing of goalkeeper Baleato.
After the break, Maldonado found the net again, this time taking advantage
of a mistake by a defender, who gifted him the ball inside Defensor's box.
In the 63rd minute, González scored a nice goal, which put the match
completely out of reach for the visitors. In the 72nd minute, Pérez scored a
second goal for Defensor, making the scoreline respectable for the
Uruguayan team.


6 MARCH 2001

SÃO CAETANO 1 : Daniel 81
CRUZ AZUL 1 : Reynoso 76

Cruz Azul entered this match with the clear purpose of getting a draw, and
they accomplished their goal. The Brazilian side had total dominance, but
always stopped in the stubborn Mexican defence. In the 34th minute, Magrão
scored for the home side, but the referee wrongfully disallowed the goal.
Surprisingly, it was Cruz Azul who opened the scoring. After a corner,
Reynoso rose higher than the defenders and headed the ball in. São Caetano
attacked with everything they got, and got a deserved equaliser in the 81st
minute. It was a simple play: there was a free kick from the left side and
Daniel managed to head the cross in. The home side still pressed forward for
the game-winner, but they were unable to breach the Mexican defence again.


27 FEBRUARY 2001

OLMEDO 2 : Landriel 22, Lavayén 90
CRUZ AZUL 3 : Morales 55, Belloso 63, Mora 81

Olmedo took advantage of the heavy rain that was falling throughout the
match and dominated the first half. In the 22nd minute, the home side
opened the scoring. Paredes out-ran his marker and sent a low cross
into the box. Landriel reacted quicker than the defenders and poked the
ball in. After the break, Cruz Azul improved a lot, and started to dominate
the proceedings. It didn't take long for them to equalise. Adomaitis sent
a long ball into the box, Morales got the ball, beat a defender and scored
with a crossed shot that goalkeeper Corozo wasn't able to stop. In the
63rd minute, Cruz Azul took the lead. Gutiérrez went down the right
side and spotted Belloso all alone inside the box. The Argentinean
striker received the ball and easily deflected it in. Olmedo pressed
forward during the final 15 minutes, but they were surprised by a third
goal by Cruz Azul, in a fast counter-attack by Mora. In the last minute
of play, the home side scored their second goal through Lavayén, but
there was no more time for a comeback.

Red Card : Gutiérrez (Cruz Azul)


20 FEBRUARY 2001

CRUZ AZUL 2 : Palencia 30, Belloso 89
DEFENSOR 0

After a shaky start, Cruz Azul gradually dominated the match. Their first
goal came on the half-hour mark. Belloso was brought down by the keeper and
Palencia capitalised from the ensuing penalty. Goalkeeper Fernando Baleato
kept the visitors in the match with some fine saves, until the 89th minute,
when Belloso made it 2x0 for Cruz Azul with a diving header from a cross by
Campos.


13 FEBRUARY 2001

DEFENSOR 3 : Liguera 12, 77, Eliomar 56
OLMEDO 2 : Landriel 6, Luiz González 85

The match started at high pace. Defensor had some early scoring chances, but
it was Olmedo who opened the scoring, with Landriel capitalising after a
counter-attack. But it didn't take long for the home side to tie the game.
Faudeuille was quicker than his markers and crossed from the left to
Liguera, who poked the ball in. In spite of the goal, it was Olmedo who
dominated the rest of the first half, hitting the post twice. But the second
half belonged to Defensor. In the 56th minutes they took the lead, after a
nice play involving Silva, Liguera and then Eliomar. And in the 77th minute
the home side assured their victory thanks to a great shot by Liguera, which
gave no chance to the goalkeeper. Luiz González scored Olmedo's second goal
with a long-range shot, but it was too late for a comeback.


Tomaz R. Alves
tomaz@trivela.com
http://trivela.com