As Expected, La Católica Advances to the Round of 16.

The 4-0 romp Universidad Católica imposed on their opponents about three weeks ago was pretty much all Catolica needed to advance to the next round of play and was still the big story tonight. Olimpia had to endure the four goals, a coaching change and the press questioning their heart after the first leg and came into this one with a little something to prove to themselves, their fans and their detractors.

While Olimpia took the initiative of constantly attacking (something, if they had done a little more decidedly in the first leg, they would have not dug themselves such a gigantic hole) and it only took a few moments, two in fact, for Olimpia to break the 0-0 scoreline. Maros Lazaga brought down a cross on the edge of the penalty area for Rodrigo Rojas who one timed the ball and was the last man on the pitch to touch it before it hit the back of the net. Católica keeper Buljubasich could only watch. 1-0 to Olimpia.

After the goal, Olimpia remained committed to attacking and kept play near the Católica penalty area. But that domination only lasted about 30 minutes or so because off the counter, Mirovan Milosevic took advantage of poor defending and was able to bring his club level off a crossed shot beating Olimpia keeper, José Ramirez. 1-1.

Milosevic was head and shoulders above the rest of the players on the pitch and terrorized the Olimpia defense and keeper by getting an assist on the second goal in the 45th minute. With a fantastic diagonal defense splitting pass, Milosevic found a streaking Julío Gutiérrez who put it past Ramirez. 2-1 to Católica and Olimpia’s fans shed a tear.

In the 2nd half, Milosevic took a back seat as playmaker to Jason Ibarrola when he came on to pull the strings in the midfield and creating danger in the Paraguayan’s penalty area. Ibarrola drew a foul in the penalty area that deserved a kick from the spot.

But Marcos Lazaga was able to pull his team level in the 58th minute off of a penalty kick awarded by the ref, René Ortubé, who got it right that time. 2-2.

After the no call on Ibarrola’s foul in the penalty area, what seemed like a football match directed by Martin Scorcese because each foul got harder and harder and the crowd got rowdier and rowdier.

One of the linesmen was under fire from the crowd receiving a shower of rocks and other projectiles. I was so bad that the ref was forced to cut the match short at the 85th minute after the play that had Hans Martinez sent off for Católica, a player that had just been subbed on.

Final score: 2-2.

I had this one going 2-0 to Olimpia. Perhaps I gave them more credit than they deserved. They did take the initiative and they did come back from being down 1-2, so they deserve some credit for that.

But enough about the Paraguayans, Católica look like a tight little squad with some problems at the back and couple of inspired players in the midfield that can truly shine when they get the space to. Católica will meet Internacional de Porto Alegre in the Round of 16.

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.

Category: Copa Sudamericana News