LDU and América in the Copa Libertadores Semi-Finals

After the 75% Premier League affair that was the Champions League semi-finals, it’s good to know that not all continental competitions follow the same path.

Boca Juniors dispatched Atlas 5-2 and Fluminese beat fellow Brazilians Sao Paulo 3-2 on aggregate earlier this week, to make it one from Brazil and one from Argentina in the semis.

And there was a chance that the final four in the Copa Libertadores would be two from Argentina and two from Brazil as Santos and San Lorenzo faced Ecuador’s LDU de Quito and Mexico’s América last night. But heroics from the smaller teams mean we’ll have a more balanced semifinal, and at least one non-Argentina/Brazil team in the 2008 CL Final.

LDU went into their game against Argentina’s San Lorenzo with a 1-1 draw from the first leg, here’s what happened.

Another 1-1 draw, and then an LDU victory on penalties (see picture of LDU keeper José Francisco Cevallos celebrating) in front of 42,000 fans. According to Libertadores Offside, this is the first time an Ecuadorian team has made the CL semis in 10 years, and LDU’s first time in the final four.

Meanwhile, in Brazil, Mexican team América traveled to the Vila Belmiro to face Santos. América had a 2-0 lead from the first leg and did all they could to defend it.

The Santos onslaught was for the most part repelled by América’s Guillermo Ochoa, who had a great night. Santos won 1-0 on the night, but América advance 2-1 on aggregate.

And so the Copa Libertadores 2008 semi-finals look like this:

Boca Juniors (ARG) vs Fluminese (BRA)
América (MEX) vs LDU de Quito (ECU)

Which means we’ll have either a Mexican or Ecuadorian team in he 2008 CL final. Although Chelsea and Man Utd are still trying to work out if they can get in on that.

Games are played May 28th/29th (first legs) and June 4th/5th (second legs). Keep up with the latest on Copa Libertadores Offside.

Category: South America, World Football

Tags: America, Arentina, Atlas, Boca Juniors, brazil, Copa Libertadores, Ecuador, Fluminese, Guillermo Ochoa, Jose Francisco Cevallos, LDU de Quito, Mexico, San Lorenzo, Santos, Sao Paulo, South America, World Football

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