Copa Sudamericana 2009 (R)

[Martin]

I cannot recall such a large scoring differential at this late stage of an international tournament before either. It was a great display by Liga who were like a shark smelling blood in the water with River leaving so many spaces open at the back. Bieler is having a great season and unfortunately odds are the club won't be able to hold on to him much longer. I was really pleased to see Franklin Salas enter late in the game and make a couple of sublime passes setting Bieler up for his 2nd and 3rd goals. 4-5 years ago Salas was Ecuador's best young prospect (above Valencia, Benitez and Caicedo) and looked on the verge of heading to Europe and to play for Ecuador at World Cup 2006 but a series of knee injuries devastated him, he lost his speed and mobility and is just a shadow of the player he once was. But he can still pass and showed that coming off the bench against River Plate.

Should be a fascinating final and as we have noted a rematch of the 2008 Libertadores Final which was one of the betetr recent one sin that competition, ending 5-5 on aggregate before Liga won the title on penalties.

So far Fluminense have not shown that their fight to save themselves from relegation ahs effected their play in the Sudamericana but with both events coming to a climax it is hard to imagine that it cannot effect them.

[autogol]

It is a shame injuries have bothered Salas so much because like martin i too thought he was a very exciting young player, quick, a good dribbler and very elusive he looked to have a great career. Now he doesn't have that quickness or elusiveness but he has learned to pass and with that hoepfully he can find more playing time. LDU Quito really have a strong team, not only is there Bieler to score the goals but Ecuadorian internationals and World Cup veterans like Edison Mendez, Neicer Reasco and Ulises de la Cruz are also on the team in addition to some solid defenders like Espinola, Araujo and Campos. But they'll have their hands full with Fluminense's passing game and the finishing ability of Fred. It looks like an excellent final.

[enganche]

Both clubs have changed some players since that 2008 Libertadores final but the idea that ended 5-5 on aggregate and went to penalties makes you think we could have a pretty open two legged final in this Sudamericana.

[rosarino]

1st leg final result:

Liga de Quito 5-1 Fluminense

Fluminense scored very early through Marquinhos putting in a rebound of Fred's shot but after that it was all Liga de Quito. Another whirlwind performance from them led by three goals Edison Mendez, two on long range rockets and a headed goal, another from sub Franklin Salas from a tight angle and a 5th another long range shot but this from Ulises de la Cruz.

An impressive game from Liga, hard to imagine Fluminense making up a 4 goal deficit in the return leg next week in Rio.

[Don Balon]

So that is a 12-2 scoring margin in Liga de Quito's last two home games in the competition. A pretty remarkable scoring margin. That must be one of the best home field advantages enjyed by any club in international competitions. I saw the highlights of Mendez' goals, and his 2nd, a powerful shot from outside the penalty area was the best of his 3 goals in my eyes. But Salas' and de la Cruz' were pretty good too.

[xeneize]

I have always felt LDU Quito's home field advantage was due to the high altitude and unquestionably that plays a big role but after watching last night's game you can see the team can also play. Fluminense are on a roll but making up 4 goals is a huge deficit to makeup. If LDU keeps all 11 players on the field, they should be alright next week.

[autogol]

The high altitude does help those shots from long distance and Liga de Quito took advanatge of that as the ball just flies in Quito. A well struck shot is going to be harder to save in Quito than at sea level. And mendez and de la Cruz certainly struck their shots well last night. It was 4-1 for Liga in the 2008 Libertadores final which is not easy to overcome but Flu did it forcing penalties. But this extra goal Liga scored last night makes Fluminense's job even more difficult and frankly this Liga team while maybe not having the explosiveness on the wings of the 2008 Libertadores champions, has a more solid defense with Espindola's addition and de la Cruz and Mendez give the midfield real substance.