Copa Libertadores Round of 16 1st Legs
The Swine Flu outbreak has begun to cause havoc with the competition. With both Mexican clubs due to play their games as double header at Estadio El Campín in Bogotá, the city authorities blackballed CONMEBOL's plan fearing an epidemic to break out. CONMEBOL have therefore decided to delay the games by a week in order to come up with a solution to the problem.
Things got underway at the Palestra Itália on Tuesday night where Palmeiras and Sport met for the third time in the competition this season. The seeding system allowing two teams from the same group to meet again in the competition. Palmeiras had held the upper hand in the Group stage, winning in Recife before a draw back at the Palestra Itália. And it is the home side who would take a lead into next weeks second leg. After Hamilton Calheiros was shown a straight red card for Sport for a foul on José Ortigoza and it was Ortigoza who had the last laugh a minute later as he headed home the winner.
Grêmio put one foor in the last 8 with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Universidad San Martín in Lima. Souza put the top seeded Brazilians into the lease but Martín Arzuaga equalized 11 minutes before half time. However a Maxi López (yes, the former Barcelona player) brace in the second half should be enough to see the Brazilians into the last 8.
The remaining first leg ties to be played this week were completed on Thursday night. Cruzeiro will take a 2-1 lead over Universidad de Chile back to Belo Horizonte for the second leg next week. Soares and Marquinhos Paraná put Cruzeiro two up before Rafael Ollara made next week's game interesting with a strike 7 minutes from time. Universidad will be without Rafael Ollarra after he was sent off three minutes from time.
Estudiantes stuck a toe into the last 8 with a 3-0 victory over Club Libertad in La Plata. Gastón Fernández put the home side up inside a minute and two second half goals in the space of 7 minutes from Mauro Boselli wrapped things up. Miguel Samudio was sent off for Club Libertad and he will miss the return match.
Caracas got the perfect start in Cuenca on what can only be described as a "paddy field" of a pitch when Gabriel Cichero put them ahead against Deportivo Cuenca inside two minutes. Rodrigo Teixiera levelled for Deportivo just short of the hour before Hólger Matamoros struck 20 minutes from time to give the Ecuadorians a slender 2-1 advantage to take back to Caracas.
Results
Palmeiras 1-0 Sport
Universidad San Martin 1-3 Grêmio
Deportivo Cuenca 2-1 Caracas
Estudiantes 3-0 Club Libertad
Universidad de Chile 1-2 Cruzeiro
Next weeks fixtures
First Legs
14/5 Defensor Sporting v Boca Juniors
TBC San Luis v Nacional
TBC Guadalajara v São Paulo
Second Legs
12/5 Sport v Palmeiras
12/5 Caracas v Deportivo Cuenca
13/5 Grêmio v Universidad San Martin
14/5 Cruzeiro v Universidad de Chile
14/5 Club Libertad v Estudiantes
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