LDU Quito, the Argentine-Killer.

By: Mauro | May 23rd, 2008

LDU Quito had something to prove in this match. This was one of their first really big and important matches, in my opinion. It was this tie and the match at home against Fluminense that were the biggest matches for LDU Quito and they drew both of them so far.

San Lorenzo, meanwhile, has taken out River Plate and developed a knack for staging dramatic come backs. They had done that on two occasions in the Libertadores so far and both had been as the visiting team. Last week, as the home side, San Lorenzo earned the lead and then LDU Quito came back and drew themselves level.

There was a lot riding on this match so it was no surprise that both teams came out running on all cylinders. For the first 20 minutes, San Lorenzo worked to get to LDU Quito’s penalty area, but didn’t keep possession long enough before giving it right back to the hosts in the form of a goal kick or through a sloppy pass. Still, LDU Quito had more clear opportunities to score and San Lorenzo exhibited a more scrappy brand of football with no clear play.

In the 26th minute, LDU found their goal on a 20-30 yard howler from Damían Manso. San Lorenzo keeper Agustín Orión dove with his arms extended but his hands must have gone up lazily because the ball went between his hands and into the goal. A fantastic strike by easily the best player on the pitch. 1-0 to LDU Quito.

Four minutes later, Juan Manuel Torres came in on Enrique Vera knocking him to the pitch. He gave the ref, Rodriguez Moreno, no choice but to send him off for the exceptionally rough challenge. But Torres, very upset and giving the ref some parting words, then slaps the red card out of the ref’s hand as if he showed him a picture of what he would look like dressed as a woman. I’m sure CONMEBOL will be sending him a nice bill along with a hefty suspension for that little video byte. San Lorenzo, down to 10 men.

With Luís Bolaños on the left, Manso in the middle and Patricio Urrutia on the right, LDU Quito made the first half a complete nightmare for the San Lorenzo defense. With cutting runs and long weighted passes into Orión’s penalty area to Joffre Guerrón and Claudio Bieler. Bolaños and Urrutia opened up the defense and San Lorenzo’s defense were like sitting ducks in the penalty area.

Manso limped through the last 10 minutes after a rough challenge by Aguirre who was not called for the foul on the play.

Right out of the gate in the second half, San Lorenzo surged and Bergessio score a scorching header off a corner kick to bring his team level, again, with only 10 men wearing blue and red jerseys. It seemed the come back was on. 1-1.

But not as far as LDU Quito was concerned. they regained possession in the second half and proceeded to have many close calls near the 60th minute, approximately 5 opportunities in a row.

Meanwhile, Gastón Aguirre had shut down Patricio Urrutia in the first part of the second half on the right. Actually, Gastón Aguirre held the standard for San Lorenzo’s defense. While they attempted to detour the onslaught, Aguirre stood firm and found his foot clearing the ball on many, many occasions.

In the 70th minute, who else but Aguirre saved a header by Claudio Bieler when keeper Orion ran out of goal towards an unmarked Ambrossi. Aguirre was phenomenal in the back for San Lorenzo clearing numerous crosses including a header by Bieler on the goal line after Orion chased down Paul Ambrosi who appeared unmarked in the penalty area.

Later, Bieler scored off a header and had it disallowed because he and three of his team mates were called offside. San Lorenzo was impeccable on defense since the midfield had trouble holding the ball, the locals had numerous chances to score before the end of the match. Their defense took them all the way to the 48th minute where the ref called the match. All that was left were the penalties.

During the penalties, LDU Quito’s José Cevallos emerged as the hero on the night. He blocked Aureliano Torres’ shot on the third penalty, LDU were perfect from the mark and scored all five, Claudio Bieler had the honor of knocking in the last one. The 42,000 souls in the Estadio La Casa Blanca can now continue to dream into the semi-finals.

With this result, LDU Quito has advanced to the semi-finals of this competition for the first time in their club’s history and they became the first Ecuadorian team to reach the semi-finals in 10 years. This is the third Argentine squad that LDU Quito eliminate from this competition. With only one more Argentine representative in the competition (Boca Juniors), LDU Quito will not face them until they both qualify to the finals. But before then, LDU Quito face América, next week, in the Estadio Azteca.

I had this match going 2-1 to San Lorenzo. I figured they had one more come back in their tank but on penalties, it’s anyone’s game. Kudos to LDU Quito for fielding a very organized and decisive team. It’s nice to see that good football can be rewarded. Congratulations on being one of the top four footballing clubs on the American continent.

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