Argentinos caught by the Flu - Copa Libertadores Group 3

Fluminense 2-2 Argentinos Juniors

In the Live Premier Sports TV game, Brazilian champions Fluminense twice came from behind to share the points with Argentinos Juniors of Argentina in the opening Copa Santander Libertadores Second Stage clash. Argentinos Juniors striker Franco Niell gave his side the lead on the stroke of half-time but Rafael Moura hit back for the hosts to level things just before the hour.

Fluminense were rocked again when they fell behind for a second time when Niell from grabbed his second with 20 minutes remaining. Argentinos were looking to give their campaign the perfect start, but Moura struck his second four minutes later to ensure a share of the spoils for the Tricolor and the second consecutive game that Moura has got two goals since arriving from Goiás.

The fixture between Deportes Tolima and Guaraní was resheduled for next week.

Next week the rest of the teams join the action, the fixtures are as follows

Deportes Tolima v Guaraní
Vélez Sarsfield v Caracas FC
San Luis v Club Libertad
Deportivo Táchira v Santos
América v Nacional
Unión Española v Universdad Cátolica
Emelec v Internacional
Cruzeiro v Estudiantes LIVE on Premier Sports TV 0000GMT Thursday
Jaguares v Jorge Wilstermann
Once Caldas v Universidad San Martin
León de Huánuco v Junior
Grêmio v Oriente Petrolero
Cerro Porteño v Colo Colo
Godoy Cruz v LDU Quito

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Copa Sudamericana Final 2nd Leg

Fluminense 3-0 LDU Quito

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.

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.

Copa Sudamericana Final 1st Leg

LDU Quito 5-1 Fluminense

LDU have opened up a huge advantage in the Copa Sudamericana final after thrashing Fluminense 5-1 at the Estadio Casa Blanca in Quito.

Fluminense led with less than 60 seconds on the clock when Marquinho pounced to give the visitors a shock lead. Fluminense began to struggle in the altitude and were behind by half time thanks to two cracking goals from Edison Méndez, pictured right celebrating with LDU coach Jorge Fossati. Méndez completed his hat-trick with a header on the hour and then turned creator for Franklin Salas to add a fourth. 4-1 was probably enough for Fluminense to haul back in Rio next week but Ulises de la Cruz put one hand on the trophy for LDU with a 30 yarder with three minutes to go.

What the ramifications are for Fluminense no one can tell. It's their first defeat after a 13 match unbeaten run, including victories in the last 8 on the spin, and with Vitória due at the Maracanã in a must win game in their fight against relegation it may have had a devastating effect on the confidence of the side coming into what could be one of the biggest weeks in the history of Fluminense.

You can't fault the efforts of LDU, they were masterful tonight. Ripping Fluminense to shreds at times and fully deserving their four goal lead. After last years Libertadores final, you shouldn't write this game off. It finished 5-5 on aggregate last time and who is to say that with a full to bursting Maracanã behind them, Fluminense might pull off the impossible. They've been doing it in the league for the last 6 weeks but I think this may be a bridge too far for them and there may be tears at the end of it all.

Copa Sudamericana Final preview

Fluminense and LDU Quito meet again at Estadio Casa Blanca in the first leg of the Copa Nissan Sudamericana final tonight in the Ecuadorean capital at an altitude of 2850 metres.

Flu are hoping for better luck than the last time they faced LDU in a continental final. That was last year in the final of the Copa Libertadores, which LDU won 3-1 in a dramatic penalty shootout at the Maracanã after finishing level at 5-5 over two legs and a further half an hour of extra time.

"They will have a bad memory of what happened in Maracanã," said Jorge Fossati, pictured, the Uruguayan coach of LDU.

The Sudamericana is the continent's equivalent of the Europa League but neither team have yet to taste success in this competition. LDU's Libertadores success has already been mentioned but Fluminense have never won an international title.

"Playing an international cup final in the continent that exports the most soccer talent to the world is a great honour," said LDU vice-president Patricio Torres.

LDU reached the final by hammering River Plate Montevideo 7-0 and rested several players for their league game at weekend, which they lost 1-0 to Manta FC. Fluminense got to the final by beating Cerro Porteño 3-1 on aggregate after a dramatic late finish in the Maracanã. Fluminense were in Recife at the weekend and defeated already relegated Sport 3-0 in the Campeonato and are likely to field the same lineup.

LDU have a slight doubt over the fitness of Jairo Campos, but Renán Calle is on standby to take his place if he fails a fitness test.

Fluminense coach Cuca reckons his team can deliver success, "We can't play defensively, because that is what LDU want us to do. We will not change out style of play just because it's a final."

Fluminense will depend on striker Fred for the goals but will be without injured defender Digao, who has a fractured left foot, and forward Maicon, who has a thigh problem.

The Brazilian players have tried to play down playing at altitude in Quito. Fred, left, said, "I'm not worried because I talked to the coach and he said playing at altitude is a psychological thing, so I'll try to keep it out of my mind."

Possible line ups

LDU Quito: Alexander Domínguez; Norberto Araujo, Carlos Espínola, Jairo Campos or Renán Calle; Néicer Reasco, Diego Calderón, Ulises De La Cruz, Miller Bolaños, Édison Méndez; Walter Calderón, Claudio Bieler.

Fluminense: Rafael; Gum, Dalton, Cassio; Mariano, Diogo or Marquinho, Diguinho, Darío Conca, Marquinho; Alan, Fred.

Referee: Roberto Silvera (Uruguay)

The game is being streamed live on certain bookmakers sites (subject to national restrictions) and kicks off at 23.50 GMT

Just to point out, the rules are different for the final. Away goals don't count. If it's level at the end of 180 minutes, we'll have a further 30 minutes of extra time before the game goes to a penalty shoot out.