Defending champion Estudiantes claimed an important away win in
Tuesday's first leg of its Copa Libertadores round of 16 clash at
Mexico's San Luis, with Leandro Gonzalez giving the Argentines a
1-0 victory.
In Tuesday's other first-leg clash, Guadalajara salvaged some
pride for Mexico with a 3-0 defeat of Argentina's Velez Sarsfield.
Estudiantes will host San Luis in the return leg on
Wednesday, May 5. Velez is at home against Chivas on Tuesday, May
4.
Gonzalez hit a diagonal drive into the roof of the net in the
25th minute for what proved the winner.
Gaston Fernandez missed the chance to extend the lead as San
Luis goalkeeper Carlos Trejo saved his penalty just before half
time.
Estudiantes fullback Clemente Rodriguez was sent off after
receiving a second yellow card in the 69th minute, but the
Argentine club had little difficulty protecting its lead.
Estudiantes, currently top of the Argentine league standings,
won despite resting six first-team players, including veteran
playmaker Juan Sebastian Veron.
In Tuesday's other match, Omar Bravo scored twice in Chivas'
victory over Velez Sarsfield.
Bravo dived feet-first at the near post to convert Omar
Arellano's right wing cross to give Chivas the lead in the 25th
minute.
Bravo found himself alone in the box to head the second from
a free kick after Velez' offside trap failed in the 78th minute.
Velez goalkeeper German Montoya was sent off for bringing
down Bravo in the box and Hector Reynoso rammed in the
stoppage-time penalty.
Guadalajara was missing five first-team players - including
recent Manchester United signing Javier Hernandez - because they
have been called up to a World Cup training camp with Mexico's
national team.
The knockout round of 16 first-leg games continue Wednesday:
Peru's Universitario hosts Brazil's Sao Paulo, an all-Brazilian
clash will see Flamengo entertain Corinthians, and Argentina's
Banfield is at home against another Brazilian side, Internacional.
On Thursday, Paraguay's Libertad visits Colombia's Once
Caldas, Brazil's Cruzeiro hosts Uruguay's Nacional and Universidad
de Chile travels to Peru's Alianza Lima.
Guadalajara and San Luis were given byes to the last 16 after
being forced to pull out of last year's tournament at the same
stage because of the swine flu outbreak.
The Copa Libertadores is the top club competition in Latin
America. This year, the tournament will take a break after the
quarterfinal stage to make way for the World Cup, with the
semifinals and final to be decided in July and August.
Estudiantes beat Cruzeiro in last year's final.
