LDU Quito qualify with brilliant Barcos goal
Reuters - Wednesday 13 April 2011, 03:04
BUENOS AIRES - Striker Hernan Barcos
scored a brilliant solo goal as LDU Quito beat Godoy Cruz of
Argentina 2-0 to go through to the Libertadores Cup knockout
phase as Group Eight winners on Tuesday.
Five-times South American champions Penarol of Uruguay
joined them in second place in the group despite a 1-0 home
defeat by Argentina's Independiente marred by crowd violence at
the Centenario.
LDU's Argentine striker Barcos, who had laid on the
Ecuadorian team's opening goal for Luis Bolanos two minutes
after the interval, embarked on a run down the left flank in the
58th.
Skipping past two defenders near the left corner
flag, Barcos ran into the box close to the goal-line and slotted
in a shot between goalkeeper Sebastian Torrico and the near
post.
"I'm really happy with the move and the finish which came
off so well," man-of-the-match Barcos told Fox Sports.
Competition debutants Godoy Cruz, who had a good first half
but felt the effects of the high altitude in Quito as the match
wore on, had winger Carlos Sanchez sent off in the 67th minute
for kicking an opponent on the ground.
At the Centenario, Penarol fans unfurled a 15,000
square metres flag that covered nearly two whole stands
celebrating their team's 120th anniversary, but record
seven-times champions Independiente spoiled the party.
Striker Facundo Parra scored the only goal after 33 minutes
for a second string Independiente side that travelled to
Montevideo needing a 8-0 victory to qualify.
Parra played the last six minutes in goal after goalkeeper
Fabian Assmann and Penarol striker Juan Manuel Olivera were sent
off for fighting.
There was fighting and stone throwing before kickoff between
about 100 travelling Independiente fans and Penarol supporters.
Police quickly stopped the fighting and there were no arrests.
In Group Five, Chile's Colo Colo went top with a 2-1 home
win over Deportivo Tachira of Venezuela.
Striker Diego Rubio scored both their goals after midfielder
Edgar Perez Greco had given Tachira a third-minute lead.
The Chilean team are a point ahead of Paraguay's Cerro
Porteno who host third-placed Santos in Asuncion on Thursday in
a match the Brazilian side must win to retain a realistic chance
of qualifying.