Two Debuts, One Match.

By: Mauro | September 4th, 2008

Club de Deportes Ñublense vs. Club Sport Ancash (Estadio Municipal, Concepción, Chile)

LIVE @ 3:00pm PST on Fox Sports Español. Gamecast here. Online TV here.

While on a regular occasion this is hardly a match to get excited over, it is one of only two matches this week and there are some nice reasons to tune in and the players definitely have something to play for. And, what the hell?!?!, I’m back!! How ’bout that for a reason, goddammit? Now tune in!

Ñublense is a professional football team from Chile’s first division. The qualified for this tournament for being first place in the 2007 Apertura league stage. Ñublense is considered a smaller side in the Chilean league with relatively very little history on the international stage. But this Ñublense side is coming off one of the best seasons in their club’s history and

Sport Ancash, on the other hand, are the only remaining Peruvian side in this year’s edition of the Sudamericana. The other entrant was Universitario de Deportes who was put away by Deportivo Quito in the Preliminary Round. Sport Ancash fields a mostly Peruvian side which means the club most likely doesn’t have a lot of money to invest in players which is reflected in their trophy cabinet. With only one sole piece of silverware, the Copa Peru in 2004, Sport Ancash are hoping to be the LDU Quito of this tournament. The only problem is that Ñublense stands between them and that hope.

Ancash have the win over local side, Melgar, 2-1 in their pockets ahead of this one due expressly to the strong efforts of forward Germán Carty and defender Alessandro Morán. Both of these players were on the Cienciano side who lifted the Sudamericana back in 2003. Both players are bringing quite a bit of experience along with the help of midfielder Carlos Flores.

Ñublense is coming off a 2-0 win over even smaller Chilean side, Antofagasta. They will play tonight’s match in Concepción since their stadium is being remodeled for the next Women’s U20 World Cup. The problem is that because of the distance between Chillán, where Ñublense is from, and Concepción is so large, it’s expected that not many fans will make the trip.

These two teams have much in common. Both are considered ’small’ sides in their respective leagues and both squads are making their international debuts in tonight’s match. But they are also plagued with the fact that they experienced their best seasons followed by a deep drop in their recent form.

Bottom Line: Expect Ñublense to come out and try to make a difference on their own ground. No one wants to play at 3,200 meters above sea level to try to make up an adverse result. But because away wins in South America are so rare, Sport Ancash will most likely come out and try to hold the Chileans off looking to make up any difference at home where they are expected to have the advantage.

My Pick: 2-0 to Ñublense. I would be really surprised to see Ancash score a goal. But I may have just jinxed myself .

In the meantime, 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.