Copa Sudamericana Round-Up: Outstanding Eduardo Vargas leads Universidad de Chile to semi-finals

The highly-rated striker scored one and created another to send Arsenal de Sarandi out of the Copa, while a nerve-wracking shoot-out saw Liga also progress

Nov 18, 2011 3:00:00 AM

By Daniel Edwards

More On :  Arsenal, L.D.U., Libertad, Universidad de Chile
Universidad de Chile 3-0
 Arsenal de Sarandi
Universidad de Chile win 5-1 on aggregate

A wonderful individual display from Universidad starlet Eduardo Vargas led the Chileans to a place in the last-four of the Copa Sudamerica, as they booked their spot with a crushing second leg victory over Arsenal in Santiago.

Just two days after starting for the Chilean national team, the 22-year-old Milan target opened the scoring with a placed shot originally ruled out for offside, only for the linesman's decision to be correctly overturned by the referee. Vargas then turned provider following an excellent break down the right, squaring perfectly for Francisco Castro.

Gustavo Canales put the tie beyond all doubt by hitting the net 10 minutes after half-time, as the Argentines went down convincingly away from home to add to the 2-1 loss in Buenos Aires. The U move on to a semi-final clash against Vasco, with the fixtures to be scheduled.

Libertad 1-0
 LDU Quito
LDU Quito win 5-4 on penalties (1-1 aggregate)

Paraguayan giants Libertad suffered the cruellest of fates in front of their own fans, scoring in the last minute to level the tie only to exit on penalties to the 2009 Sudamericana winners.

Trailing 1-0 after the first-leg, the Repolleros bombarded Liga's net with attempts but could not find a way past Alex Carabali, who kept out decent effort from Ignacio Canuto and Sergio Aquino among others to frustrate the hosts. The equaliser would have to wait until the 89th minute.

Pablo Velazquez's header in the dying seconds forced the game into penalties as extra time is not played under Sudamericana regulations, and after five kicks each, scores were tied at 4-4. Neicer Reasco's effort meant Libertad's Manuel Maciel had to score to keep his side's chances alive, but the forward's effort was saved by Carabali to send the jubilant Quito through.

Liga now face a semi-final clash with Velez Sarsfield, who put them out of the 2011 Copa Libertadores at the last 16 stage.

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