Chile championship resumes following quake
Reuters - Monday 15 March 2010, 11:31
BUENOS AIRES - Chile's championship
resumed at the weekend after an interruption of more than two
weeks following the massive earthquake that devastated parts of
the country and left hundreds of people dead.
Penarol increased their perfect opening start to eight wins
in Uruguay, while Peruvian champions Universitario won for the
first time after three defeats.
CHILE
The Chilean championship resumed with a 3-3 draw between San
Luis and Nublense, whose goalkeeper Jorge Deschamps was sent off
in the 66th minute.
Midfielder Luis Flores gave Nublense a 2-1 halftime lead
before Deschamps brought down Mario Pierani and the forward
converted the penalty to put San Luis level at 2-2. Despite
being a man short Nublense's Red Devils went ahead again through
Jose Luis Munoz.
Joel Soto secured a point for San Luis with his second goal
of the match when he scored a last-minute equaliser after taking
a fine long pass directly from goalkeeper Luciano Palos, racing
though the middle unchallenged and rounding Deschamps's reserve
Maximiliano Scapparoni.
After only five matches were possible, Union Espanola lead
with 15 points from seven games after a 1-1 draw with Santiago
Morning. Universidad de Chile have 13 from six.
Sunday's late match in which Audax Italiano led Deportes La
Serena 2-1 was abandoned in the second half due to a power cut
that affected many parts of the country.
URUGUAY
Sergio Blanco scored a hat-trick with two goals in the
opening seven minutes and including two penalties while fellow
striker Sebastian Balsas hit two as champions Nacional crushed
10-man Atenas 6-0. Defender Jose da Silva was sent off on the
hour.
Penarol beat Central Espanol 2-0 to stretch their perfect
run to eight wins, equalling the club record, and striker Tony
Pacheco scored both goals to take his championship leading tally
to 12.
Espanol keeper Ignacio de Leon was sent off shortly before
halftime after conceding a penalty. Pacheco converted and then
added his second goal two minutes later.
Penarol lead by five points from second-placed Fenix, while
Nacional are eight points behind their arch-rivals.
PERU
Champions Universitario won 1-0 at home to Jose Galvez with
a 77th minute goal by Piero Alva for their first points after
three defeats, their worst start to a league championship this
decade.
They have a match in hand after last weekend's meeting with
Total Chalaco was suspended due to a sponsorship row which the
federation has sent to an arbitration panel.
Sporting Cristal lost their perfect record but are still
unbeaten after a 0-0 draw with Alianza Atletico. They lead with
13 points from five matches.
BOLIVIA
Uruguayan striker William Ferreira scored a 12-minute
hat-trick in the second half as Bolivar crushed 10-man Real
Mamore 6-1.
Defender Ovidio Guatia, who had scored an own goal from a
Charles da Silva free kick to put Bolivar 2-1 up, was sent off
four minutes before halftime for a second yellow card offence.
PARAGUAY
Cerro Porteno lead with 21 points from eight matches after a
4-1 home win over Sport Colombia with two goals from substitute
midfielder Julio dos Santos. His first goal two minutes after
coming on in the 54th minute put Cerro 2-1 up.
ECUADOR
Unbeaten LDU, held 1-1 by Espoli who scored a stoppage-time
equaliser through David Bone, lead with 14 points from six
matches.
LDU are three points ahead of Deportivo Cuenca and four
ahead of Barcelona, who are at home to struggling champions
Deportivo Quito on Monday night.
VENEZUELA
Real Esppor went top of the Clausura championship with a 2-0
win over Deportivo Italia while Caracas FC, who did not play,
are two points behind with a match in hand.
COLOMBIA
There was no football due to national elections.
Follow FFT.com on Twitter
Join FFT.com on Facebook