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Copa Argentina Wrap: Juventud Unida Universitario claim upset win

Juventud Unida Universitario have stunned Union Santa Fe in their Copa Argentina second round clash on Wednesday.

The third-tier outfit held firm at their Estadio Provincial Juan Gilberto Funes home, finishing level at 0-0 before winning the penalty shootout 4-1 against Union Santa Fe.

Union Santa Fe, who have performed well in the second tier, were expected to progress but were always in danger once the hosts forced a shootout.

That proved to be the only upset on Wednesday as two other second-tier outfits advanced.

San Martin San Juan managed to get the job done in regulation, claiming a 2-1 home win against third-tier Cipolletti.

Gabriel Chironi put the underdogs ahead on 37 minutes but the hosts levelled early in the second half.

Lucas Salas struck a dramatic late winner just a minute before full-time for San Martin San Juan.

The clash between Patronato and Instituto finished 2-2 before the latter claimed a thrilling 5-4 shootout win.

Instituto had twice come from behind and made the most of doing so by clinching the shootout victory.

Chile Primera Division Wrap: Palestino edge ahead

Palestino have moved a step closer to the Chile Primera Division final after a 1-0 win at Cobreloa on Wednesday.

With a place in the 2014 Copa Sudamericana on the line, Palestino made the perfect start to their semi-final tie.

Renato Ramos´ 49th-minute goal was all they needed to win at Cobreloa´s Estadio Regional Calvo y Bascunan.

In the other semi-final, Cobresal were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Universidad Concepcion.

Emiliano Astorga´s Palestino are well-placed heading into the second leg thanks to Ramos´ goal in Antofagasta.

The second legs of both ties will be played on Sunday.

Argentina Primera Division: Lanus 0 Tigre 0

Lanus missed the opportunity on Wednesday to move within two points of Argentina Primera Division leaders Gimnasia La Plata.

Lowly Tigre held Lanus to a scoreless draw at home despite ending the match with 10 players, after Gaston Diaz´s second-half red card.

In a frustrating result for Lanus coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto, the draw left his side in sixth with 26 points, four adrift of Gimnasia and just behind fifth-placed Estudiantes on goal difference in the Primera Division table.

Tigre produced the better chances to score at the Estadio Ciudad de Lanus in the catch-up game on Wednesday with the visitors producing five shots on target compared to the hosts´ two, however, neither team was able to beat their opposing goalkeeper.

Diaz´s expulsion with 12 minutes remaining gave Lanus some hope of notching a late winner but the reigning Copa Sudamericana champions were unable to breach Tigre´s defence and were forced to settle for a draw against the 15th-placed club in Argentina´s top tier.

The draw ended Tigre´s two-game losing streak and took them a point ahead of the next two teams in the table - Racing Club and Atletico Rafaela.

Lanus have collected four points in their past three games to drop to sixth with their goal difference (0) keeping them behind Estudiantes (plus five).

Godoy Cruz (28 points, plus six) and River Plate (28, plus five) are Gimnasia´s main rivals at the top of the table, while Colon sit fourth on 27 and a plus four goal difference.

Gimnasia, who have won their past six straight games, have a goal difference of plus eight.

Martín Palermo: "Hay que ir por más y no conformarnos con esto"

SANTIAGO DE CHILE -- El entrenador de Arsenal, Martín Palermo, aseguró que su equipo irá "por más" y no se conformarán sólo con el pasaje a los cuartos de final obtenido ante la Unión Española tras vencerlo 1-0 en Santiago de Chile.

"Hay que ir por más y no conformarse con esto. Creo que este equipo tiene para pelear por algo más", enfatizó el Titán luego de la victoria en suelo trasandino.

Por otro lado, el director técnico destacó el pasaporte a la siguiente instancia como "histórico", al tiempo que aclaró que "estos muchachos lo tienen merecido".

"El plantel viene haciendo un esfuerzo grande desde el 31 de enero cuando jugaron la final con Vélez (Supercopa Argentina). De local hicimos un partido muy bueno, logramos tener nuestro arco en cero y acá aprovechamos la pelota parada, que es una de las armas del equipo", analizó.

Con respecto a la experiencia del cuerpo técnico que conforma junto a Roberto Abbondanzieri y Rolando Schiavi en la competencia, Palermo manifestó lo que trata de inculcarle a sus dirigidos.

"Cada partido se tiene que vivir y sentir como el último. No sabés si vas a vivir otra circunstancia como ésta. Cada serie es un partido de ciento ochenta minutos", sostuvo.

Para concluir Palermo manifestó que vio los partidos de Nacional de Paraguay, su próximo adversario, ante Vélez Sarsfield y que le pareció un "duro rival".

Raul Jimenez ´´Hat-Trick´´ Completes Heroic America Comeback Over Santos

Mexican National Team hopeful Raul Jimenez led Club America to a thrilling come back from behind, to a 5-3 win over Santos Laguna in the first leg match of the Clausura 2014 quarterfinals. Santos at one point held a 1-3 lead but three unannounced goals from Raul Jimenez gave the Mexico City side the upper leg in this playoff match.

It was Club America who came out and dominated the match from the opening whistle. Miguel Layun on the left wing and Rubens Sambueza along with Oswaldo Martinez through the center looked to set up Luis Gabriel Rey and Raul Jimenez in the box.

The Santos defense seemed to just want to survive the opening onslaught from the host as they could not grab a hold of the ball.

In the 11th minute of play right wing back Paul Aguilar sent in a low cross that should have been cleared away from the Santos defense. Center back Jonathan Lacerda had the ball stolen away from him by America´s Luis Gabriel Rey, he then turned and shot on goal. The ball was saved by Santos goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez, but the rebound was taken by Oswaldo Martinez to open the scoreboard.

Following the goal the visiting side seemed to settle down into the match. By the 20th minute of play, it was the Laguna side who were the team that were dominating the match. In the 25th minute Rodolfo Salinas got up and headed in a Juan Pablo Rodriguez cross to tie the game.

The visitors took their dominance over to the second half of the match. Only two minutes after the second half whistle Carlos Darwin Quintero was finishing off a Jesus Escoboza play that set him with a wide open goal. Six minutes later a third for the away team came in as Ribair Rodriguez headed in a Juan Pablo Rodriguez free kick cross similar to the first goal.

When it all seemed lost for the home side the Raul Jimenez show started; In the 58th minute Jimenez gave America a live-line if only for the return leg. Jimenez headed in an Oswaldo Martinez cross to cut the deficit to one goal. Jimenez was at it again in the 80th minute this time heading in a Luis Angel Mendoza cross.

In the 86th minute Jimenez with his back-heel managed to give America the lead. And a long distance shot from Rubens Sambueza that was deflected found its way past Oswaldo Sanchez to round up the scoring.

The return leg will be next Saturday night in the Territorio Santos Modelo Stadium. The away goal rule is in effect and Santos Laguna will require a two goal win to tie the aggregate score to advance.



https://www.youtube.com/…YR7hIG37pfM

Liga del Futbol Profesional Boliviano Wrap: San Jose stay top

San Jose maintained their one-point advantage atop the Liga del Futbol Profesional Boliviano on Wednesday.

Julio Cesar Baldivieso´s San Jose edged to a come-from-behind 2-1 win at Oriente Petrolero to stay top of the table.

https://www.youtube.com/…rlkWvWKUun8


Club Universitario had put the pressure on San Jose with a 3-0 victory over Wilstermann earlier on Wednesday, but the league leaders responded to keep first place.

The Strongest sit third on 32 points – three adrift of San Jose – and played their matchday 17 encounter on April 23.

At Oriente Petrolero´s Estadio Ramon Aguilera Costas, the hosts went ahead on 49 minutes thanks to Alcides Pena.

But San Jose´s response was immediate as Adan Bravo equalised and Mariano Brau´s own goal on 82 minutes was the difference.

Goals from Jorge Cuellar, Gustavo Pinedo and Alejandro Bejarano had earlier helped Club Universitario to a 3-0 win at home to Wilstermann.

https://www.youtube.com/…7bhR_HFBQCM

Real Potosi slipped eight points behind the leaders after a surprise 2-1 loss at Aurora.

https://www.youtube.com/…D9SPW07Flp8

Santos Amador and Oscar Diaz struck in the opening seven minutes for Aurora and they held on despite Rosauro Rivero´s second-half goal.

Bolivar returned to winning ways in style, thrashing strugglers Blooming 6-0.

Erwin Saavedra and Damian Lizio netted twice each as Bolivar cruised to a resounding victory in front of their home fans.

Sport Boys suffered a 2-0 loss at Guabira in a mid-table clash.

Copa Libertadores Wrap: San Lorenzo defeat Gremio in shootout

San Lorenzo have survived at Gremio on Wednesday to advance to the Copa Libertadores quarter-finals on penalties.

Gremio scored the only goal of the second leg in Porto Alegre with seven minutes remaining to force a shootout but San Lorenzo goalkeeper Sebastian Torrico produced fine saves to deny Hernan Barcos and Maxi Rodriguez from the spot to give the visitors victory.

https://www.youtube.com/…RbFAh-x0vOE

https://www.youtube.com/…6p_5WfxBKFM

Julio Buffarini converted the winning spot-kick for the Argentine visitors, who were lucky to survive in Brazil.

Gremio had 10 shots to five for the match with San Lorenzo only testing the hosts´ goalkeeper Marcelo Grohe once through the 90 minutes.

But the home side had to wait until the 83rd minute to score the goal that levelled the tie 1-1 on aggregate.

Barcos released Rodriguinho down the right and the substitute unleashed what looked like a shot towards the back post, which Dudu bravely nodded into the net from close range.

Whether Rodriguinho meant to cross the ball meant little to the home fans, who had become more anxious as the second leg wore on.

Gremio´s supporters saw plenty of opportunities go begging in the first half with Barcos having his chip over Torrico´s head cleared off the line in the 11th minute, while the home side´s captain was denied at close range by San Lorenzo´s goalkeeper in the shadows of half-time.

Dudu´s goal late in the second half gave Gremio hope of clinching a late victory but San Lorenzo held on and took an early advantage in the shootout when Torrico saved the opening penalty from Barcos.

The next three spot-kicks were converted, putting the visitors ahead 2-1, before Torrico tipped Rodriguez´s penalty onto the bar, and the ball bounced down and out.

San Lorenzo´s fortune did not end there with both Nicolas Blandi and Buffarini´s efforts going in off the post.

The Argentine club will take on Cruzeiro in the quarter-finals after the Brazilian outfit defeated Cerro Porteno of Paraguay 2-0 on Wednesday.


https://www.youtube.com/…lcyQdbrl7ec

Cruzeiro clinched a 3-1 aggregate victory thanks to late goals from Dede and Dagoberto in a game that saw three red cards.

Cerro Porteno had Matias Corujo and Daniel Guiza sent off - the latter from the bench after being subbed off - and Cruzeiro lost Bruno Rodrigo to a second yellow card just before Dede´s 80th-minute opener.

In the other round-of-16 tie, Arsenal qualified for the last eight with a 1-0 victory at Chile´s Union Espanola with Diego Braghieri scoring the only goal of the two-legged tie in the 64th minute on Wednesday.

https://www.youtube.com/…iYHuNfN4o4I

Arsenal will play Nacional in the next round.

Ecuador Primera A: Olmedo 1 Emelec 1

Ecuador Primera A leaders Emelec needed a fortunate late goal from Angel Mena to claim a 1-1 draw at Olmedo on Wednesday.

After Cristian Palacios had given Olmedo a 1-0 lead at half-time in the catch-up match, Emelec salvaged a point in Riobamba when Mena´s 81st-minute cross from the left wing looped over the hosts´ goalkeeper and inside the back post.

The draw extended Emelec´s undefeated run to four games with the Primera A´s top team leading by seven points from LDU Loja.

Olmedo have not won in the same length of time and sit eighth in the table with 18 points.

Emelec have 34 points after 15 games with a goal difference of plus 19, putting them well ahead of Loja (27, plus two) and third-placed Independiente del Valle (25, plus four).

With the rest of the Primera A playing their Round 15 matches over the weekend, Emelec and Olmedo had a game in hand leading into Wednesday´s fixture.

Olmedo opened the scoring in the 28th minute with Palacios getting on the end of a clever flick, before finishing across Emelec´s goalkeeper and into the far corner.

The hosts looked set to hold on for a rare win as Emelec struggled, only for the leaders to eventually equalise through Mena.

The two teams are set to do battle again on Sunday with Olmedo on the road at Emelec in Round 16.

https://www.youtube.com/…6N4AGq5Sgrc

Costa Rica Primera Division Wrap: Saprissa, Alajuelense into final

There was more late drama in Costa Rica´s Primera Division on Wednesday, with Deportivo Saprissa and Alajuelense winning their semi-finals.

Alajuelense came from 1-0 down in their second leg at home to Herediano, to win 3-1 on the night and 4-2 on aggregate to reach the Clausura final.

https://www.youtube.com/…8zyoe7-ZuzM

https://www.youtube.com/…IMl7Dx5ohbo

The rivalry between the two clubs has been a fierce one of late, with Alajuelense denying Herediano in four Apertura finals since 2010 before beating them in the semi-final stage on Wednesday to preserve their dominance in the Provincial Classic.

Dave Myrie had put Herediano ahead at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela, only for three quick-fire goals from the hosts to turn the tie on its head.

Just as they had done in the first leg, when Ariel Rodriguez equalised on 87 minutes away at Herediano, Alajuelense produced goals from Johan Venegas (84th minute), Alejandro Alpizar (89th) and Jose Ortiz (90th) to kill off the visitors.

Venegas´ goal squared the tie, and it was headed for extra-time before Alpizar´s intervention and Ortiz´s sealer.

Deportivo Saprissa await Alajuelense for their ´Costa Rican Classic´ final, after a 4-2 aggregate win over UCR.

Saprissa won their second leg at their Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Ayma home 2-0, although the tie was only killed off proper when Hansell Arauz doubled their advantage on the night on 89 minutes.

Carlos Saucedo had earlier put Saprissa in a strong position, with his 29th-minute opener resulting in UCR requiring two goals to advance.

The two-legged final kicks off on May 10, with the second leg a week later.

Alajuelense are vying to become the most successful club in Costa Rica´s history, as they sit level with Saprissa on 29 trophies after the former won the 2013 Apertura title over Herediano in December.

Costa Rica Primera Division Wrap: Saprissa, Alajuelense into final

There was more late drama in Costa Rica´s Primera Division on Wednesday, with Deportivo Saprissa and Alajuelense winning their semi-finals.

Alajuelense came from 1-0 down in their second leg at home to Herediano, to win 3-1 on the night and 4-2 on aggregate to reach the Clausura final.

https://www.youtube.com/…8zyoe7-ZuzM

https://www.youtube.com/…IMl7Dx5oh-bo

The rivalry between the two clubs has been a fierce one of late, with Alajuelense denying Herediano in four Apertura finals since 2010 before beating them in the semi-final stage on Wednesday to preserve their dominance in the Provincial Classic.

Dave Myrie had put Herediano ahead at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela, only for three quick-fire goals from the hosts to turn the tie on its head.

Just as they had done in the first leg, when Ariel Rodriguez equalised on 87 minutes away at Herediano, Alajuelense produced goals from Johan Venegas (84th minute), Alejandro Alpizar (89th) and Jose Ortiz (90th) to kill off the visitors.

Venegas´ goal squared the tie, and it was headed for extra-time before Alpizar´s intervention and Ortiz´s sealer.

Deportivo Saprissa await Alajuelense for their ´Costa Rican Classic´ final, after a 4-2 aggregate win over UCR.

Saprissa won their second leg at their Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Ayma home 2-0, although the tie was only killed off proper when Hansell Arauz doubled their advantage on the night on 89 minutes.

Carlos Saucedo had earlier put Saprissa in a strong position, with his 29th-minute opener resulting in UCR requiring two goals to advance.

The two-legged final kicks off on May 10, with the second leg a week later.

Alajuelense are vying to become the most successful club in Costa Rica´s history, as they sit level with Saprissa on 29 trophies after the former won the 2013 Apertura title over Herediano in December.

Hvorfor, hvorfor :( Tre sene mål ødelagde det hele. Nu skal La Liga gå hele vejen, så kommer Herediano i Concachampions.