Penarol pummeled at home in Libertadores Cup
Reuters - Wednesday 22 February 2012, 03:16
Uruguay's Penarol,
runners-up last year, had one of their worst Libertadores Cup
nights on Tuesday with a crushing 4-0 home defeat by Atletico
Nacional of Colombia.
Winger Jherson Cordoba and striker Dorlan Pabon scored two
goals apiece as Nacional, champions in 1989, ran riot against
sluggish opponents at Penarol's Centenario stronghold in
Montevideo.
Nacional lead Group Eight with a maximum six points having
beaten Universidad de Chile 2-0 at home in Medellin last week.
Penarol, five times South American champions, have no points
and have yet to score a goal after one of their worst starts in
the competition. They lost 1-0 away to Argentina's Godoy Cruz
last week.
"It became impossible to dominate the midfield. Our
philosophy is 4-3-3 and they had greater numbers [there],"
Penarol goalkeeper Fabian Carini told reporters.
Penarol captain Dario Rodriguez added: "It's tough, we
weren't considering a defeat and less by such a score... losing
like this makes you want to play [again] tomorrow."
There were goals inside the opening minute in two other
matches. Argentina's Arsenal beat Zamora of Venezuela 3-0 in
Buenos Aires in Group Four and Chile's Union Espanola came from
a goal down to win 3-1 against Bolivar in La Paz in Group Three.
Jorge Ortiz gave Arsenal a flying start against the
debutants, who had held six-times champions Boca Juniors to a
0-0 draw in their opening match at home last week.
The pick was Arsenal's third just before half-time with
Colombian winger Carlos Carbonero, who scored their second goal,
making a break down the right and steering the ball into the box
where striker Luciano Leguizamon chipped over goalkeeper Alvaro
Forero.
At high-altitude in the Hernando Siles stadium, Espanola
made light of the rarefied air by fighting back with three goals
in the final half hour after defender Edhemir Rodriguez had put
Bolivar ahead in the first minute.