Rate it!

0 votes

This week's round-up takes in silverware in Colombia, a 10-goal thriller in Peru and no shortage of red mist throughout South America.

COLOMBIA

Once Caldas won the Apertura championship when they upset Atletico Junior 3-1 away in the second leg of the final in Barranquilla.

Caldas, missing three key players through suspension including Peruvian forward Johan Fano who scored in their 2-1 first leg victory in Manizales in midweek, won 5-2 on aggregate.

Goals by Alexis Henriquez in the 17th minute, Alex Sinisterra just before halftime and Dayron Perez midway through the second half secured Caldas their third league title in front of a crowd of 60,000 at the Metropolitano.

Defender Hayder Palacio scored a first half equaliser for Junior with a free kick.

It was also a first title for coach Javier Alvarez, a losing finalist in 1998 in a previous stint in charge of Caldas and in 2003 with Deportivo Cali.

BRAZIL

Ecuador's Luis Bolanos struck a 10-minute hat-trick to give Internacional a 3-0 home win over Coritiba and a share of top place in the Brazilian Championship.

Inter are equal on 17 points with Atletico Mineiro, who lost their unbeaten record in a 4-2 upset by promoted Barueri, although they have an inferior goal difference.

Inter, who had lost their previous three matches in all competitions and not won in six, rested several key players for Wednesday's second leg of the Copa Brasil against Corinthians, in which they are 2-0 down.

Bolanos, formerly with 2008 Libertadores Cup winners LDU of Ecuador, opened the scoring 18 minutes into the second half of Sunday's match after beating three defenders.

Six minutes later, he tapped in the second after an incursion from the right by Alecsandro, and completed his hat-trick with a low shot.

"I've been looking for opportunities (to play) and it's very good to score goals," Bolanos told reporters. "I'm grateful to (coach) Tite for the chance to play."

Copa Sudamericana holders Inter, who had last tasted victory on May 31, also lost the first leg of the South American Supercup 1-0 against LDU midweek.

Corinthians also rested pla yers including Ronaldo and lost 1-0 away to Atletico Paranaense.

Palmeiras, in their first match since coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo was sacked earlier in the weekend, drew 1-1 at home with Santos in a regional "classic".

They went ahead through striker Obina, playing in place of Keirrison whose removal from the squad during transfer talks with Barcelona sparked the row between Luxemburgo and the Palmeiras management that led to the coach's sacking. Substitute Robson equalised for the visitors nine minutes from time.

Former Monaco coach Ricardo Gomes made a winning debut in charge of title holders Sao Paulo, whose 2-0 home victory over Nautico on Saturday was only their second in eight matches.

Brazil midfielder Hernanes, returning to the team as captain after being dropped by sacked coach Muricy Ramalho, scored one goal and laid on the other for Jean Roth.

Adriano's Flamengo drew 0-0 with Fluminense at the Maracana in a Rio de Janeiro derby.

PARAGUAY

Title holders Libertad shocked leaders Cerro Porteno 3-0 away to keep the championship race alive until next weekend's final round of matches.

A draw at their Olla (Bowl) ground was all Cerro needed to celebrate their first championship since 2005 but goals by Adalberto Roman, Juan Samudio and Colombian striker Vladimir Marin silenced their fans.

Roman put Libertad in front after heading home a corner in the 38th minute, Samudio added the second from Victor Ayala's pass in the 55th and Marin rounded off the victory with a scissor kick three minutes into stoppage time.

Cerro, two points ahead of Libertad, still need just a draw when they visit 12 de Octubre next weekend, while the second-placed defending champions face Tacuary.

CHILE

Union Espanola won the shootout 4-2 after a 0-0 draw with Universidad Catolica in the second leg of their semi-final, postponed from Sunday because of a waterlogged pitch, for a scoreless aggregate.

The winning team, down to 10 men from the 56th minute after the sending-off of Argentine midfielder David Ramirez, had their Paraguayan goalkeeper Cristian Limenza to thank for their place in the final.

Limenza stopped a penalty in the shootout and made a string of saves during the match watched by 14,000 spectators at Union's Santa Laura stadium in Santiago.

Universidad de Chile beat 10-man Everton 3-1 at the National stadium to go through 3-2 on aggregate on Saturday.

The "U" went ahead with an early header by Uruguayan striker Juan Manuel Olivera to level the aggregate score and forward Emilio Hernandez added their second in the 19th minute.

Four minutes before half time Everton had Argentine striker Ezequiel Miralles sent off for a second yellow card offence.

They still pulled one back with a spectacular long- range shot by midfielder Jaime Riveros early in the second half, an away goal which would have been enough to qualify.

However, just past the hour, defender Jose Contreras secured The U's place in the final, heading home from a free kick.

The first leg of the final will be played at the National stadium on Thursday with the return at Santa Laura on Sunday.

PERU

Cienciano and Sporting Cristal drew 5-5 in a remarkable match at high altitude in the Andean city of Cuzco.

Sporting, from Lima on the coast, made light of the rarefied atmosphere to go three up inside 50 minutes, then the home side hit back with three including a brace from Brazilian Sergio Junior in the next 15 minutes.

The Lima side, who had won their last five matches, went ahead again in the 76th minute with Carlos Lobaton's second goal of the match before team mate Edwin Perez was sent off 10 minutes from time.

Cienciano's "Red Fury" then looked to have snatched the points with two more goals but Roberto Palacios equalised in stoppage time with a shot from outside the box.

Nolberto Solano's Universitario were held 1-1 at Total Chalaco but still increased their lead to three points after 19 matches.

Second-placed arch-rivals Alianza Lima, down to 10 men from the 34th minute when Pedro Aparicio was sent off, lost 2-0 at home to lowly Melgar.

Third-placed Juan Aurich, who had Mario Gomez sent off 23 minutes from the end, were crushed 4-1 by San Martin and are four points off the pace.

BOLIVIA

Paraguayan Aquilino Villalba's 51st-minute strike was enough to give leaders Bolivar a 1-0 home win over Oriente Petrolero that kept them a point ahead of Real Potosi with one match to go in the Apertura championship.

Luis Gatty Ribeiro scored twice as Real Potosi beat La Paz 3-1 at home.

In their last match, Bolivar are away to relegation-threatened Real Mamore, who beat Nacional Potosi 5-4 in a match they should have won easily. Colombian Oscar Diaz scored a hat-trick as the home side went 4-0 up within half an hour of kickoff and 5-1 ahead with less than 20 minutes to go.

ECUADOR

Emelec won 1-0 at Deportivo Cuenca with a goal by Mario Munoz just before halftime to open a four-point lead over 2008 Libertadores Cup winners LDU Quito, who have a game in hand.

Three players were sent off in the space of seven minutes in Tecnico Universitario's 2-0 home win over Macara, Luis Velasco of the home side for a foul on Juan Carlos Ferreyra early in the second half.

He was followed soon after by Macara's Edwin Moreira for a bad tackle from behind and Ferreyra, who elbowed a defender going for a cross.

Reuters