Cruzeiro & Lanus triumph in Libertadores
Reuters - Thursday 25 March 2010, 04:06
BUENOS AIRES - Brazil's Cruzeiro beat
Deportivo Italia of Venezuela 2-0 on Wednesday to go joint top
of Group Seven in the Libertadores Cup.
Cruzeiro and Argentine side Velez Sarsfield lead the group
on seven points, Chile's Colo Colo have four and Deportivo
Italia one. Velez host Colo Colo on Thursday in Buenos Aires.
The Brazilians took the lead following a sixth-minute
corner when Italia goalkeeper Jose Fernandez was caught
stranded and Fabinho stooped to head the ball through a melee
of players.
Italia midfielder Alain Giroletti rattled the bar with a
free-kick close to the half-hour mark before Pedro Ken
increased Cruzeiro's lead in the 69th minute, two minutes after
coming on as a substitute.
In Group Four, Argentina's Lanus beat Blooming of Bolivia
1-0 thanks to a penalty from Santiago Salcedo to climb within
two points of joint leaders Libertad of Paraguay and Peruvian
champions Universitario.
STALEMATE IN CHILE
In Group Seven, Universidad Catolica of Chile needed a late
equaliser from forward Juan Jose Morales to scrape a 1-1 draw
at home to Caracas FC.
The Venezuelan side took the lead five minutes after
halftime through defender Jaime Bustamante, who volleyed home
from Dario Figueroa's free-kick.
Striker Zamir Valoyes could have given Caracas victory but
his two efforts in quick succession hit the woodwork four
minutes from time. In their next attack Pablo Camacho hit the
post.
Catolica fans jeered the team after their poor performance
and called for coach Marco Antonio Figueroa to be sacked.
The result leaves both teams in danger of elimination.
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