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Liga De Quito Too Much For Pachuca
Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Quito qualified for the final of the FIFA Club World Cup after a comfortable 2-0 victory over Pachuca on Wednesday.
Dec 17, 2008 4:08:39 PM
The Ecuadorians won the match courtesy of first half goals from Claudio Bieler (4') and Luis Bolanos (26).
Edgardo Bauza's side knew that they would be in for a stiff contest against Pachuca, and they couldn't have asked for a better start, as Argentine striker Claudio Bieler fired them ahead in the 4th minute, when he latched onto a rebound in the Pachuca area.
Liga looked extremely confident on the ball, despite the wet conditions, and in the 26th minute Luis Bolanos doubled their lead, with a perfectly executed free-kick that left Pachuca goalkeeper Miguel Calero will not chance whatsoever.
At this stage the Copa Libertadores champions were cruising, but as the half progressed the Mexicans came more and more into the match.
Enrique Meza's side, who came from two goals down to defeat Al Alhy 4-2 in the quarter-finals, pushed forward in large numbers towards the end of the first half, in an aim to reduce the deficit, but they lacked sufficient authority when in the attacking third.
After the break Liga de Quito seemed happy to push the ball around in the midfield, but they continued to threaten the Mexican goal with swift counterattacks.
Argentine midfielder, Damian Manso, was in inspired form, and he steered Edgardo Bauza's side forward as they looked for a third goal.
Pachuca, on the other hand, couldn't find their feet, and lacked precision with their passing. Despite the effort of Damian Alvarez and Christian Gimenez, the Mexicans struggled to make an impact on the match.
As the minutes ticked away, Liga seemed in complete control, and they slowed down the pace of the game.
Their opponents came increasingly close to pulling a goal back late on in the match, but their strikers, namely Bruno Marioni, were completely off form when it came to finishing.
Liga de Quito were well worth their comfortable victory in a historic night for Ecuadorian football.
Liga de Quito will meet the winner of either Manchester United or Gamba Osaka in the final of the Club World Cup on Sunday.
Team Line-ups
Pachuca 0: Miguel Calero, Faustino Pinto, Leobardo Lopez, Jaime Correa (Paul Aguilar 45'), Julio Manzur, Damian Alvarez, Jose Francisco Torres (Carlos Rodriguez 67'), Christian Gimenez, Luis Montes (Jose Cardenas 45'), Juan Carlos Rojas and Bruno Marioni. Coach: Eduardo Meza
Liga de Quito 2: Jose Cevallos, Renan Calle, Jairo Campos, Norberto Araujo, Damian Manso, Neicer Reasco (Pedro Larrea 90'), Patricio Urrutia, Luis Bolanos, William Araujo, Diego Calderon and Claudio Bieler (Reinaldo Navia 78'). Coach: Edgardo Bauza
Goals: Claudio Bieler (4') and Luis Bolanos (26')
-- Gregory Sica, Goal.com
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