Atlas End Up On Top, Colo Colo Are Out.

By: Mauro | April 23rd, 2008

I knew one of these two teams were going to go home last night. I just figured it was more probable that the home team would make it happen in front of their fans, and it never entered my mind that a draw was a possibility. I figured Colo Colo would come out, in search of the win so blindly that they would either win or lose.

Colo Colo did come out guns blazing in the first half looking desperately for the opening goal and got it, seven minutes in. Ricardo Rojas knocked in a cross from the left and El Cacique started to dream. Despite this, they played a tepid match, surging and then disappearing from time to time, probably due to good defense and enthusiasm.

The tying goal came off a corner kick where Diego Colotto seemed to find the ball, all by his lonesome, at the back post to head it in off the post. With the 1-0 win, Colo Colo and Atlas would have qualified but with the draw only Atlas qualify since Boca was winning their match, at that point 3-0.

The match ended 1-1 and, in fact, only Atlas qualified and Boca needed only to cover Colo Colo’s goal difference. Colo Colo had only a +2 goal difference and Boca, who started last night’s matches with a 0 goal differential, had what they needed with the 3-0 win over Maracaibo. Just like that, Colo Colo was out. One more goal could have given them the qualification but it was not to be.

I had this match going 2-1 to Colo Colo. I had never expected a draw here. I figured Colo Colo would have gone forward like mad and it would have gotten them the win or would have cost them the match. Ah well. With this win, Atlas earn the first place in Group 3 and Boca earns second place on goal difference.

Check the CONMEBOL website for final Group 3 standings and results.