LDU Quito wins on goal difference
LDU Quito have been crowned the 2009 Copa Nissan Sudamericana champions despite a 3-0 loss to Fluminense at a packed Maracanã.
LDU Quito have been crowned the 2009 Copa Nissan Sudamericana champions despite a 3-0 loss to Fluminense at a packed Maracanã.
The 5-1 first leg win last week in Quito was decisive for Jorge Fossati's side to lift their third continental title inside 18 months, having won the Copa Libertadores last year and the Recopa Sudamericana against Internacional earlier on in the year.
However, LDU experienced a fair bit of squeaky bum time before making sure of their success.
Needing at least a four goal win just to take the game to extra-time, Fluminense were desperate for an early goal to give them momentum and keep their hopes alive. Unlike on Sunday against Vtiória when they were two up inside the first five minutes it took them 14 minutes to make the breakthrough.
Diguinho's deflected shot off William Arajou beat LDU goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez. Fluminense should have doubled their advantage shortly but Alan failed to connect with a Dario Conca cross. Fluminense were then presented with the opportunity of playing against 10 men after LDU's Ulises de la Cruz, scorer of the firth goal in Quito last week, was dismissed for a nasty foul on Diguinho. Then two minutes before half time the defecit on aggregate was halved when Fred scored to make it 2-0.
Fluminense now had the momentum and the Fluzão behind them in the second half and they went so close to a third in the 57th minute when Ruy hit the woodwork. With 20 minutes to go the fans in the Maracanã started to believe the impossible could happen when Gum headed in a corner to send the stadium into rapture. However, four minutes later they lost their man advantage when goalscorer Fred was given a second yellow card for dissent at referee Carlos Amarilla.
Then Neicer Reasco had the chance to kill the tie off but Rafael kept Fluminense in the game with a save. Fluminense got their man advantage back when Jairo Campos was shown a red card for tugging back Alan by the shirt for his second booking on the night. Despite the best efforts of Fluminense, the home side failed find the net and at the final whistle LDU were able to celebrate their third CONMEBOL title in a little over 12 months.
LDU now get to defend their Recopa title against Estudiantes before another trip to Japan, after their FIFA World Club Championship appearance in 2008, to face FC Tokyo in the Suruga Bank Championship.
Also, I hate to beat my own drum. But I did pick the winner back in October. Check the first paragraph.
However, LDU experienced a fair bit of squeaky bum time before making sure of their success.
Needing at least a four goal win just to take the game to extra-time, Fluminense were desperate for an early goal to give them momentum and keep their hopes alive. Unlike on Sunday against Vtiória when they were two up inside the first five minutes it took them 14 minutes to make the breakthrough.
Diguinho's deflected shot off William Arajou beat LDU goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez. Fluminense should have doubled their advantage shortly but Alan failed to connect with a Dario Conca cross. Fluminense were then presented with the opportunity of playing against 10 men after LDU's Ulises de la Cruz, scorer of the firth goal in Quito last week, was dismissed for a nasty foul on Diguinho. Then two minutes before half time the defecit on aggregate was halved when Fred scored to make it 2-0.
Fluminense now had the momentum and the Fluzão behind them in the second half and they went so close to a third in the 57th minute when Ruy hit the woodwork. With 20 minutes to go the fans in the Maracanã started to believe the impossible could happen when Gum headed in a corner to send the stadium into rapture. However, four minutes later they lost their man advantage when goalscorer Fred was given a second yellow card for dissent at referee Carlos Amarilla.
Then Neicer Reasco had the chance to kill the tie off but Rafael kept Fluminense in the game with a save. Fluminense got their man advantage back when Jairo Campos was shown a red card for tugging back Alan by the shirt for his second booking on the night. Despite the best efforts of Fluminense, the home side failed find the net and at the final whistle LDU were able to celebrate their third CONMEBOL title in a little over 12 months.
LDU now get to defend their Recopa title against Estudiantes before another trip to Japan, after their FIFA World Club Championship appearance in 2008, to face FC Tokyo in the Suruga Bank Championship.
Also, I hate to beat my own drum. But I did pick the winner back in October. Check the first paragraph.
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