Ancash Beat Ñublense Like The Chileans Stole Their Lunch Money.

By: Mauro | September 17th, 2008

In the first leg two weeks ago, Sport Ancash played in a very sloppy, unorganized fashion and were unable to keep the ball from Ñublense. The Chilean side while they did keep possession of the ball for most of the night, they were unable to put away the Peruvians, they were pushed to the limit and only managed to win 1-0 at home with a last gasp penalty. But last night was a different story altogether.

Ancash was unrecognizable. They attacked from the first minute of the match looking for the series equalizing goal. Early in the match, in the 14th minute, Javier Martinez scored with his head off a corner kick to give the locals the go ahead goal. 1-0 to Ancash.

Ñublense did attempt to react but, unlike Ancash, looked exactly the same as they did two weeks ago, all fluff and no finish. Their possession of the ball ended when Ancash finally awoke and barreled forward to take back the match.

And, in what seemed like successive plays, Victor Cartagena and his Brazilian teammate Romaille Calheira put the match out of reach with Ancash’s second and third goals. Cartagena seemed to come into the area completely unmarked. Like he was strolling through his local deli. While Calheira’s goal was a rocket off his foot. 3-0 to Ancash.

The second half began with more possession by Ñublense but with very little bite in the final third of the pitch and gave Ancash keeper Johnny Vargas very little to worry about.

Near the end of the match Fernando Martel was sent off for dissent. Apparently he complained and complained to the ref about his calls or lack thereof. In injury time and with the Chileans down to 10 men and unsettled on the pitch, Ancash midfielder Carlos Flores burst up the field from midfield and scored Ancash’s final nail in the Chilean side’s coffin. 4-0 to Ancash, finito Ñublense.

I had Ancash winning this one in the penalty shoot out phase of the match. Looks like I was a bit off. Also, it looks like Ancash’s players will be ordering an extra round of guinea pigs at the team dinner this week after all. Their president promised them $30,000 for winning tonight and the carrot seemed to have worked.

And they’ll need the protein (hence the guinea pigs) because they face the winner of Vasco da Gama and Palmeiras’ second leg tomorrow night. Vasco had a cracker in their backyard some weeks ago when they fielded a young alternate side and spanked Palmeiras 3-1. But if last night’s match has taught us anything, you can’t count any team out completely.

Feel free to check the CONMEBOL website for results and information about upcoming matches and for those of you in need of a bracket to get your heads around the competition, get one here.