Boca Stomp Libertadores Champs in a Fantastic Showing of Argentine Football.

By: Mauro | September 24th, 2008

While I did expect LDU Quito to play in a fairly conservative fashion and still have some offensive spark the injuries that felled most of their backline and their star holding midfielder, Patricio Urrutia, proved to be too much for Libertadores champions as Boca’s youngsters and substitutes treated them to a fine beating at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires.

LDU and Boca started the match playing fairly evenly but the Ecuadorians seemed to let up by about the tenth minute of play. And that’s when Boca’s youngsters put the boot in and didn’t take it out until the ref blew the whistle at the end of the match.

With what seemed like Boca’s young players trying to earn themselves a spot on the first team, players like Pablo Mouche, Jonatan Philippe, Juan Forlin and Carlos Fondacaro, outran any LDU player on the pitch, and not just for a short time but for the ENTIRETY of the match. That’s why it wasn’t odd to see Mouche and Philippe racing back on defense and then exploding forward to add to the counter attack, which they did very little of since they controlled the ball and pace of the game.

Leandro Gracian pulled the strings in the midfield like a seasoned pro. He combined in midfield with the likes of Crístian Chávez and Neri Cardozo and the three commanded the midfield with authority.

And while Boca did arrive at the penalty area a handful of times, they opened scoring in the 27th minute off a lovely play on the right flank and followed by and equally lovely cross and wrapped up with an even more attractive finish by debuting Forlin. A fantastic header by the youngster made it 1-0 to Boca and rightfully so.

But as the announcers watched the replay, you could still hear Boca attacking. They weren’t letting up. LDU did their very best but it was strongly evident that their defense was not up to tonight’s task. So much so, that the second goal was a product of a rebound off of Gabriel Espinosa who converged on keeper Cevallos after he bobbled it in the 6 yard box. 2-0 to Boca. Still, rightfully so.

Mouche had a chance in the 34th, Gracián also had a chance 5 minutes later and Philippe another one in the 41st minute but either bad aim or the crossbar kept that from happening. LDU wasn’t completely absent in the match. They did have short spells of possession but they were fleeting and not nearly long enough to create a sense of danger on the Boca penalty area.

Without Joffre Guerrón (transferred to Getafe of La Liga after the Libertadores), LDU seemed to have lost their surprise on the left. You see Guerrón could exploit the right with his pace and ability with the ball at his feet. In doing this, the defense would focus on the right leaving the left with a little more space where a player like Bolaños could have a field day. The Ecuadorian side, while only a shadow of its former self was exposed for what they truly were, a squad with a couple of great role players and no one to replace those special, creative players.

Four minutes into the 2nd half, Mouche finally got his goal when Philippe brought down a cross and Mouche blasted it past a helpless Cevallos. 3-0 to Boca.

Having played the majority of the match at an impressive breakneck pace, some of Boca’s players seemed to be tired but they still didn’t let up. Gone were Riquelme’s passes back towards the defenders and goalkeeper, tonight’s Boca squad was far more vertical than the starting team and the steamrolling over LDU only confirmed that.

The fourth and final goal of the match came in the 38th minute when various Boca players combined on a sweet play in the cavities of space left by LDU defenders. Nicolás Gaitán scored Boca’s 4th goal. 4-0 to Boca. Pretty much at that point, the match was effectively over.

As a River Plate fan, there are very few times where I find watching a Boca match pleasurable, but last night, I really had to take off my hat to this group of players. They played a match that would make any Argentine proud and with the collective wherewithal to create chance, after chance, after chance in true Argentine footballing style.

I had this match going 2-1 to Boca. I had expected a little more from LDU offensively but they were overmatched. There’s no question that this result leaves Boca with one foot in the Quarter-finals but the match in the altitude of Quito will not be a simple errand.

It’s last night’s football that makes me follow this tournament. Open, racing, precise football that looks to create and take risks. What a great way to open the Round of 16 here in the Copa Sudamericana. Take that UEFA Champions League.

I do have a request for Boca coach Carlos Ischia, please let these boys close out this series in Quito next week. I think with last night’s performance, they earned it.

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.