Universidad close in on quarters

A goal by Diego Rivarola five minutes from the final whistle gave Universidad de Chile a key win in Peru over hosts Alianza Lima in the first leg of their Copa Libertadores last 16 encounter.

Alianza dominated possession from the first minute but they were unable to create any clear-cut chances. The best ones in the first half were in Universidad's counter-attacks - a shot by Juan Manuel Olivera that came back off the crossbar in the 27th minute, and one minute later Jose Contreras missed the chance after beating the Peruvian goalkeeper.

In the second half Alianza - who have not lost a game at home in the tournament - continued with their pressure on the visitors' goal but visiting goalkeeper Miguel Pinto was equal to their best efforts. Just as a goalless draw looked on the cards, the Alianza defence were caught napping and Rivarola took advantage to score the winning goal.

Universidad coach Gerardo Pelusso said: "We beat one of the best teams from the group stage, who are even stronger at home. We have to win the second leg, we don't see football in any other way. We always want to win." A victory or any draw in Chile next week will give Universidad passage to the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, in Brazil, a hat-trick by Thiago Ribeiro gave Cruzeiro a 3-1 win over Uruguay's Nacional. The hosts took a three-goal lead in the first half but in the second they could not continue with that rhythm and the Uruguayans cut the deficit to give them a glimmer of hope for the second leg.

Thiago Ribeiro scored his first goal in the seventh minute, taking advantage of a defensive mistake, and doubled Cruzeiro's advantage with a header. In the 41st minute, Henrique provided the assist for the striker to complete his hat-trick. Nacional played much better in the second half and Mario Regueiro pulled one back to provide a little more intrigue to the return leg in Montevideo.

Finally, in Colombia, Once Caldas had to settle for a goalless draw against Paraguay's Libertad. Chile World Cup Tickets are available online. Other than World cup football tickets you can also get Inter Milan vs Bayern Munich tickets, Champions League final tickets, FA Cup final tickets and World cup 2010 tickets from the same spot online without any headache and with guaranteed delivery of tickets at home i-e you can buy football tickets for any of your desired event or match.

Chile seek to make impact

Mark Gonzalez says Chile want to make a name for themselves at this summer's World Cup.

Chile return to the finals this year for the first time since 1998 after an impressive qualification campaign under Marcelo Bielsa.

And CSKA Moscow midfielder Gonzalez says they have to perform to their potential this summer to show the country deserves the chance to compete with the global elite.

"First of all, our national team wants to justify our mere arrival in South Africa," he told Sport Express. "But I do not only want us to participate - I also want us to make a name for ourselves.

"Our primary task is to advance beyond the group stage and then we will see how things go.

"Nobody expects it to be easy - we are in a group with Spain after all - but we need to focus on our own performance and our opponents'. I think Switzerland and Honduras also think this way, and that makes the World Cup even more interesting."

He added: "I must play well with CSKA if I am to perform at the World Cup. At the moment, I am viewing every training session and every match as preparation for the tournament."

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Colo Colo face uphill task

Chilean giants Colo Colo claimed a 3-2 away win over Venezuela's Deportivo Italia, but their chances of reaching the Copa Libertadores Round of 16 are slim. Ezequiel Miralles scored twice for Hugo Tocalli's side, who should have won by a wider margin in a competition where goal average is important in order to progress.

Emerson Panigutti surprisingly put the hosts ahead in the 15 minute as he cleverly backheeled in a Felix Casseres cross from the left. However, Cristian Bogado headed an equaliser from Miralles cross 11 minutes later, before Argentinian-born Miralles gave Colo Colo the lead with a bicycle kick in the 38th minute.

Twelve minutes into the second half, Jose-Pedro Fuenzalida helped an unmarked Miralles make it 3-1. The player had a chance for a hat-trick in the 73rd minute - but Jose-Carlo Fernandez saved his penalty. Richard Blanco reduced the deficit with an 86th-minute penalty for the already-eliminated Venezuelan side.

Colo Colo coach Tocalli still believes it is possible. He said: "I won't give up yet. I only will after the final whistle. Why can't we score four goals against Cruzeiro? They are just another football team."

Elsewhere in Lima, Peruvian giants Universitario failed to take control of Group Four as they could only manage a goalless draw against already-eliminated Blooming of Bolivia. Universitario drew level with Paraguay's Libertad on nine points, but are below them due to goal difference. The qualifiers will be established on 15 April, with both teams and Argentina's Lanus having the chance to progress.

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Rodriguez denies Flamengo

Matias Rodriguez's last-gasp goal gave Universidad de Chile a point against Brazilian giants Flamengo to enable them to maintain the leadership in Group 8.

The Chilean side drew 2-2 at the Maracana to stay top after four rounds with eight points, one more than Flamengo and four more than their compatriots Universidad Catolica.

Universidad attacker Walter Montillo broke the deadlock with a close range header just before half-time, then Vagner Love set up Michel for a second half equaliser. Leo Moura gave Flamengo the lead but midfielder Rodriguez made sure Gerardo Pelusso's men got the draw in injury-time with a strong shot from inside the box.

In Group 1, Colombian side Independiente Medellin saw off ten-man Paraguay side Cerro Porteno 1-0. Striker Luis Arias got the only goal of the game, shortly after failing to beat goalkeeper Ezequiel Medran from the penalty spot in the 55th minute. Things got worse for Cerro when midfielder Rodrigo Burgos was dismissed midway through the second half.

Medellin reached the six-point mark after five games and remain third, one point behind Uruguayan Racing and four below Brazilian side Corinthians. Peru's Alianza Lima defeated Bolivia's Bolivar 1-0 to climbed to the summit in group three after five rounds.

Striker Jose Fernandez settled the match early on with a header, meaning Gustavo Costa's side lead their group with 12 points, two more than reigning champions Estudiantes. Chile World Cup Tickets are now available online. Other than World cup tickets you can also get World cup football tickets, Champions League final tickets, FA Cup final tickets, FA Cup tickets and World cup 2010 tickets from the same spot online without any headache and with guaranteed delivery of tickets at home.

Chile climbing mountains

Chile have enjoyed a remarkable upturn in fortunes since Marcelo Bielsa took over as national coach in August 2007. Absent from the big stage since France 1998, La Roja qualified in fine style for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, finishing second in the South American Zone, just a point behind Brazil.

Not surprisingly, that achievement has resulted in a steady climb of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, where the Chileans now stand 14th, their highest position in nearly 12 years.

The last time Chile stood so close to the top ten was in September 1998, when they rose to 12th. And it was in April that year that the South Americans achieved their all-time high of sixth. Since then, however, it has been mostly downhill, with the Chileans dropping as low as 84th in December 2002.

Although signs of a recovery came under Bielsa’s predecessor Nelson Acosta, it was the appointment of man they call El Loco that proved the catalyst for Chile’s emergence from the doldrums. Buy Chile world cup tickets for the FIFA worldcup 2010 and along with that ticket4football also providing the fans with the facility to get Brazil World Cup Tickets, champions league tickets, champions league final tickets, world cup tickets and world cup 2010 tickets, means you can get your football tickets for any event from ticket4football.com.

Bielsa building bridges

A few months after moving to Chile to become the national team coach, or so the story goes, Marcelo Bielsa decided to buy a car. Heading along to a showroom, the Argentinian picked out an old make now used only by taxi drivers, the type of car he once drove in Mexico during his time in charge at Atlas and America. The showroom owner told him a new model was now available, with no frills or fancy trimmings. Known for his taste for the understated things in life, Bielsa accepted the owner’s offer and drove away with his unremarkable new purchase, which, thanks to him, has since become one of the best-selling cars in Chile.

That anecdote is typical of the man they call El Loco and underlines the impact he has had in his adopted homeland since guiding the national team back to the FIFA World Cup™ finals for the first time in 12 years. The manner in which they achieved qualification, finishing second in the South American Zone behind Brazil and playing some exciting, attacking football in the process, has brought further praise Bielsa’s way. All that remains to be seen now is whether he can earn the kind of adulation that the people of Korea Republic lavished on Dutch tactician Guus Hiddink after their run to fourth place at Korea/Japan 2002.

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