LIBERTADORES CUP - QUARTER-FINALS - DRAW

ROSARIO CENTRAL (Argentina) x AMÉRICA DE CALI (Colombia)
(balanced matchup; I bet on América)

RIVER PLATE (Argentina) x CRUZ AZUL (Mexico)
(I think River will win it, but it won't be easy)

PALMEIRAS (Brazil) x CRUZEIRO (Brazil)
(expect a lot of rough tackles and tough plays; Cruzeiro will be the winner)

VASCO (Brazil) x BOCA JUNIORS (Argentina)
(this should be the final of the competition, since both are great teams;
whoever plays the second leg at home will qualify)


17 MAY 2001

CRUZ AZUL 3 : Cardozo 6, 33, Morales 30
CERRO PORTEÑO 1 : Campos 9
(Cruz Azul wins 4x3 on aggregate)

All the action in this match happened in the first half. In the 6th minute,
Cardozo opened the scoring for Cruz Azul, but three minutes later Campos put
Cerro Porteño back ahead on aggregate. The Mexican side pressed forward, and
with two successive goals around the half-hour mark, they took the lead on
aggregate. Cerro's hopes of getting back into the tie were dented when
Campos was sent off in the 41st minute, and after that they never looked
like scoring the goal that would send the match to penalties.

Red Card : Campos (Cerro)
Attendance : around 38,000


NACIONAL 1 : Morales 90
AMÉRICA DE CALI 3 : Vásquez 32, Ferreira 39, Mafla 92
(América wins 5x1 on aggregate)

Nacional never looked like climbing back from the two-goal deficit they
brought from the first leg. América de Cali smartly played on
counter-attacks, tactic that worked perfectly for them. In the 32nd minute,
Vásquez extended the advantage of the visitors, and in the 39th Ferreira put
the tie beyond doubt. In the last minute of regulation Morales rescued some
pride for Nacional, but in injury time Mafla scored one more goal for the
Colombian side.


RIVER PLATE 5 : Ayala 21, Saviola 35, 61, Yepes 55, Ortega 65
EMELEC 0
(River wins 5x2 on aggregate)

Finally River Plate played to its full potential. They needed to overcome a
two-goal deficit from the first leg, so they pressed forward from the start.
Visibly nervous, the Emelec defense made it easy for the home side. In the
21st minute, Ayala opened the scoring, heading home a cross by Coudet. In
the 35th, it was Saviola's turn to rise all alone between two Ecuadorian
defenders to head a cross into the net, and even things on aggregate.
Tempers began to boil over, and Cardetti was sent off in the 37th minute,
for a criminal tackle on Aguirre. Even with ten men on the pitch, River
still controlled the actions, and in the 55th minute they finally took the
lead on aggregate: goalkeeper Viteri couldn't hold on to a shot by Ortega
and Yepes capitalized on the rebound. Six minutes later, a goal by Saviola
put the tie beyond Emelec's reach, and in the 65th minute Ortega completed
River's show.

Red Card : Cardetti (River)


16 MAY 2001

PALMEIRAS 1 : Muñoz 83
SÃO CAETANO 0
(1x1 on aggregate; Palmeiras wins 5x3 on penalty shootout)

The first half of this match was even-matched, with both teams missing some
scoring chances. After the break, Palmeiras took a more offensive approach,
while São Caetano became more defensive. While time was running down, the
tension was mounting up, with Palmeiras increasing their pressure and the
Azulão fighting to keep their one-goal advantage. Seven minutes from time,
Palmeiras finally scored their much-needed goal. And it was a beauty by
Muñoz, who dribbled past three defenders before firing an unstoppable rocked
past the goalkeeper. In the penalty shootout, the Palmeiras players managed
to keep their cool, scoring all their shots, whilst São Caetano's one miss
cost them qualification.

Red Card : Aílton (São Caetano)
Shootout :	PALMEIRAS	SÃO CAETANO
		Alex (goal)	Griggio (goal)
		Tuta (goal)	Nelsinho (goal)
		Lopes (goal)	Serginho (miss)
		Felipe (goal)	Daniel (goal)
		Arce (goal)


VASCO 1 : Juninho Paulista 50
DEPORTES CONCEPCIÓN 0
(Vasco wins 4x1 on aggregate)

Even facing an impossible mission (win by a two-goal margin away from home),
Deportes Concepción played with dignity, pressing forward and making for an
entertaining match. Vasco's qualification was never in doubt here, and
Juninho Paulista's free-kick goal only ensured that the Brazilian side won
both legs of the tie.


BOCA JUNIORS 1 : Schelotto 9
JUNIOR BARRANQUILLA 1 : Zambrano 1
(Boca wins 4x3 on aggregate)

Junior Barranquilla's task seemed impossible: to get a win at Boca's
fortress, the La Bombonera Stadium. But in the first minute, they
surprisingly got a goal, through Zambrano. But to hold on to a one-goal lead
for 89 minutes at La Bombonera is impossible, and soon Boca tied the match,
with a very nice goal by Schelotto. In the second half, Boca had a couple of
scares, but they were always in the driver's seat.

Red Cards : Rodríguez (Boca), Zambrano (Junior)


15 MAY 2001

CRUZEIRO 4 : Gómez (og) 1, Luisão 17, Marcus Vinícius 67, Marcelo Ramos 84
EL NACIONAL 1 : Herrera 31
(Cruzeiro wins 6x2 on aggregate)

After Cruzeiro won the first leg away, there was no doubt they would
qualify. And in the first minute of play the Brazilian side extended their
aggregate lead, thanks to an own goal by Gómez, who headed a cross into his
own net. After that, Cruzeiro just laid back and played on counter-attacks.
In the 17th minute, they made it 2x0: after a corner kick, the ball ended up
with Luisão in the 5-yard box, and the defender made no mistake. The
visitors didn't give up and scored a consolation goal through Herrera. After
the break, Cruzeiro scored two more goals, to consolidate their easy win.

Red Card : Coronel (El Nacional)


ROSARIO CENTRAL 1 : De Bruno 38
COBRELOA 1 : Tagliani 83
(Rosario wins 4x3 on aggregate)

Needing victory, the Chilean side started the match pressing forward, but
gradually Rosario Central took control of the actions. In the 38th minute,
the Argentineans opened the scoring. González passed the ball to Lequi, who
crossed it into the box; Pizzi one-timed it to De Bruno, who beat the
goalkeeper with a precise shot. In the second half, Rosario managed to keep
the Chileans at bay most of the time. The match saw many violent tackles,
which resulted in four red cards in a ten-minute spell. In the 83rd minute,
Cobreloa got some hope, thanks to a goal scored from long range by Tagliani.
But nevertheless Rosario managed to hold on to the result.

Red Cards : Baldivieso (Cobreloa), Cornejo (Cobreloa), Lequi (Rosario),
Cuberas (Rosario)


10 MAY 2001

JUNIOR BARRANQUILLA 2 : Arriaga 29, Zambrano 39
BOCA JUNIORS 3 : Delgado 8, 80, Riquelme 64

I think this was the best match in the Libertadores Cup. Delgado scored
early for the defending champions, taking advantage of a defensive lapse by
the home side. Gradually, Junior took control of the match, and tied the
game in the 29th minute. Marquinho took a free kick from the left side and
Arriaga headed the ball in. Ten minutes later, Barranquilla took the lead.
Zambrano dribbled past Bermúdez and sent an unstoppable shot past the
goalkeeper. Both sides had scoring chances in the second half, but Boca was
most efficient. Riquelme tied the match for the Argentinean side in the 64th
minute, and that seemed to take the air out of Barranquilla. Ten minutes
from time, Boca struck again, in a fast counter-attack.


CERRO PORTEÑO 2 : Ferreira 42, Caballero 84
CRUZ AZUL 1 : Almaguer 9

Cruz Azul began the match very well, scoring a goal in the 9th minute, but
after that they just stopped, seeming content with just holding on to the
result, and that cost them dear. Three minutes before the break, Cerro
Porteño managed to tie the match, through Ferreira. Ramírez was sent off
early in the second half, leaving the home side with one man down. But
instead of using that advantage to attack, the Mexican team just held their
ground. In the 84th minute, they were punished with a goal by Caballero,
which gave Cerro a one-goal advantage to the second leg.

Red Card : Ramírez (Cerro)


9 MAY 2001

AMÉRICA DE CALI 2 : Ferreira 46, González 72
NACIONAL 0

Nacional came to this match with a very defensive formation. The tactic
worked out pretty well in the first half, when they managed to keep América
de Cali at bay. But in the first minute of the second half, the home side
managed to break the deadlock. Ferreira made a nice play down the left side,
and attempted to cross the ball, which unintentionally went directly into
the net, surprising the goalkeeper. The visitors then seemed lost in the
pitch, not knowing if it was better to attack or to hold on to the one-goal
defeat. In the 72nd minute, América took advantage of that. Ferreira passed
the pall to González in the edge of the box and the defender scored with a
nice low shot.


EMELEC 2 : Aguirrez 20, Candelario 55
RIVER PLATE 0

Emelec made good use of their home advantage. They attacked most of the
time, with River Plate threatening only on counter-attacks. The opening goal
came after a free kick, which goalkeeper Bonano failed to control. Aguirrez
was quickest to the rebound and scored for Emelec. After the break, River
showed more intention to attack, but in spite of that, it was the home side
that scored, in a nice passing play involving Ayoví, Hidalgo and Candelario.
Five minutes from time, the Argentinean side was awarded a penalty, but
Cardetti shot it wide.


DEPORTES CONCEPCIÓN 1 : Verdugo 9
VASCO 3 : Juninho Paulista 20, 90, Romário 64

It's impressive the efficiency of Vasco. In this match, they had exactly
three shots on goal, and all went in. Deportes Concepción started the match
in great fashion, opening the scoring in the 9th minute, through Verdugo. In
spite of the dominance of the home side, Vasco managed to tie the match,
with Juninho heading home a cross by Euller. Concepción still dominated the
match and wasted a couple of chances to take the lead. But Vasco had
Romário. And the 'Baixinho' needed just one chance to score. After that,
desperation took control of the home side, and to make things even worse
for them, Vasco scored once again in injury time. This tie is decided.


8 MAY 2001

EL NACIONAL 1 : Herrera 48
CRUZEIRO 2 : Sorín 25, Geovanni 77

Cruzeiro dealt very well with the altitude of Quito and got an away win,
which practically seals their berth in the quarterfinals. This match was
played under heavy rain. El Nacional did most of the early attacking, but
they failed to break Cruzeiro's defence. And it was the Brazilian side that
opened the scoring. In a free kick, Ricardinho rolled the ball to Geovanni,
who sent a rocket that the goalkeeper only managed to parry; Cris took the
rebound and crossed to Sorín, who headed it in. Each team had a good
chance to score in the first half, but nevertheless it ended 1x0. Just three
minutes after the restart, El Nacional levelled the match. After a cross
from the left side, goalkeeper André clumsily left his goal and collided
with forward Fernández. The referee correctly awarded the home side a
penalty, which was converted by Herrera. After that goal, the match cooled
down, and it seemed poised to end in a draw. But in the 77th minute,
Geovanni made a great individual play, getting rid of two defenders before
scoring.


COBRELOA 2 : Abdala 15, Tagliani 81
ROSARIO CENTRAL 3 : Loeschbor 47, Cuberas 56, González 84

The match had an electric start, with both teams looking for goals. It was
Cobreloa that scored first, through Abdala, who fired an unstoppable rocket
from long range. After that, Rosario Central gradually took control of the
actions, and the game-tying goal came in the 47th minute, in a well-executed
set up play. Just nine minutes later, the visitors took the lead, with
Cuberas raising all alone to head home a cross by Lequi. Now it was time for
Cobreloa to push forward, and they managed to tie the match in the 81st
minute, with Tagliani heading home a cross by Pozo. But the match wasn't
over yet, and in the 84th minute González scored the game-winning goal for
the Argentinean side.

Red Cards : Fabianesi (Rosario)


SÃO CAETANO 1 : Marlon 80
PALMEIRAS 0

And once again São Caetano is one step away from knocking-out Palmeiras
from a major competition. This was an open match, with both sides looking
for goals. Palmeiras enjoyed most of possession, but it was São Caetano that
had the best opportunities. The 'Azulão' was rewarded in the 80th minute,
when Marlon scored with a long-range effort.


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