Action from both the Copa Libertadores and CONCACAF Champions Cup wrapped up this week with some compelling results. We look at all the action and look ahead to what’s next in the Americas region of global football.
LAFC Makes a Statement in CONCACAF Champions Cup
For all the talk about Lionel Messi still failing to win the CONCACAF Champions Cup, South Korea and Tottenham legend Heung-min Son believes he can be the one to lift the trophy. The winner of the 2024/25 Europa League with Tottenham, Son scored the opening goal in LAFC’s 3-0 thrashing of Cruz Azul from Liga MX. LAFC was at home in a more favorable environment, but a 3-0 lead, keeping Cruz Azul from scoring an away goal, means even one goal in Mexico could require Cruz Azul to score 5 goals to beat them—an incredibly difficult task for the defending CONCACAF Champions Cup winners. Cruz Azul actually had a respectable statline and controlled possession in the game, but LAFC took advantage of the chances they got with Venezuelan David Martinez Morales scoring twice.
Cruz Azul takes on Club America on the weekend in Liga MX action while Tigres will battle Chivas.
Other CONCACAF Cup Results Including a Cautious Draw for America
Club America played out a scoreless draw in Nashville, while favored in the second leg at home, their failure to score an away goal means they would need a 2-1 win if Nashville manages to score in the second leg. Nashville had the better chances in the match—this is not the dominant America that supporters expect. The club has been offensively limited all season, and starting 21-year-old Patricio Salas in his first full season didn’t yield much. America’s Andre Jardine didn’t make many subs in the match; it was survive and advance for an America team that may sneak into the Liga MX playoffs without looking like a title contending threat.
Tigres 2-0 win at home against Seattle Sounders, keeping the Sounders from scoring is pivotal before they return to Seattle. Despite Tigres Liga MX struggles, an own goal in the 76th minute was their second goal, while Ozziel Herrera—who some are arguing should be called up by El Tri for the World Cup—scored the opener. Estadio Universitario remains one of the toughest places to play in all of the Americas; the Sounders were blitzed, being outshot 22-4. Their only positive: Angel Correa missed a penalty for Tigres that would have opened the scoring in the first half. 2-0 is at least a lead they can chase, but 3-0 would have been possibly a bridge too far for Cristian Roldan and company.
Defending Liga MX champions Toluca endured a chaotic second half to emerge as 4-2 winners at home against LA Galaxy. Two away goals for the Galaxy, scored by Gabriel Pec and Marco Reus are valuable if they can tie the scoreline at home, but Portuguese international Paulinho’s hat trick was the difference maker on the day. Nicolas Castro also opened the scoring. Paulinho continues to make the case he’s the best foreign player in Liga MX, a true MVP for his team.
Venezuelan Sides Impress in Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana
The opening round of the group stage of the CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana played out across the week. It was five Venezuelan clubs that made an impressive statement in the opening round. Often considered the weakest league in CONMEBOL, the Liga FUTVE sides qualified for continental tournaments were without defeat in the opening round for the first time ever.
In the Libertadores, La Guaira held Fluminense to a scoreless draw in Caracas, despite creating few chances of their own, they kept Fluminense in check. Of note, winger Jefferson Savarino plays for Fluminense—the 29-year-old, a long time key player in Venezuela’s national team, refused a call up for the recent March friendlies. He faced boos upon returning to Venezuela, having been criticized by long-time national team striker and captain Salomon Rondon. Savarino’s return to Venezuela also saw him refuse questions from the press.
Universidad Central beat Paraguay’s Libertad 3-1 in Caracas, their game winning goal coming in the 87th minute through Yeiber Murillo, before Francisco Sole buried a penalty in extra time.
In the Sudamericana, Carabobo upset RB Bragantino from Brazil 1-0 at home. Caracas FC drew with Brazil’s Botafogo in Rio, a shocking result given the finances of both clubs. Botafogo had 71% of the ball and outshot a brave Caracas 15-7.
Botafogo’s squad value is 115 million, midfielder Danilo, age 24, started in the midfield and per Transfermarkt is worth 24 million. That’s nearly 5x the value of Caracas entire squad (5 million). The Caracas team is dominated by youth players; 20-year-old Wilfred Correa scored the opening goal, 21-year-old Frankarlos Benitez starts in goal and 5 of their starting 11 were u-23 players compared to 2 for Botafogo.
Puerto Cabello defeated Atletico Mineiro 2-1 at home in Valencia with all the goals happening in the first half. Former Venezuelan international goalkeeper Joel Graterol was strong in goal. Again this is the same story as the previous result with Mineiro’s squad value being 10x that of Puerto Cabello.
This was a historic set of games for Venezuelan football. Financial and political crises in the country have hindered the national league and the development of football in Venezuela; the sport remains secondary in the country behind baseball, with Venezuela recently winning their first ever World Baseball Classic. Most of Venezuela’s national football players play abroad, rather than in the domestic league, and it’s a bit shocking that this positive run of results took place after the country missed another chance at a maiden World Cup berth last year.
River Plate Held to Draw in Sudamericana Opener
River Plate have a squad value that makes them a strong favorite to make a deep run in the Copa Sudamericana, but they started their tournament with a 1-1 draw in Bolivia against Blooming.
While Blooming are a much smaller club, River Plate played almost the entire game with 10 men—Lucas Martinez Quarta was red carded in the 5th minute, putting River up against it. Sebastian Driussi did score, but a draw was all they could manage.
By contrast, Leandro Paredes scored and Boca Juniors opened their Libertadores Campaign with a 2-1 win over Universidad Catolica in Chile.
Brazilian Clubs Struggle in Opening Round
The results against Venezuelan opposition weren’t the only poor results for Brazilian clubs who may have been caught over-confident and under prepared in the opening round of the Libertadores and Sudamericana. Gremio lost 1-0 to Uruguay’s Montevideo City Torque in the Sudamericana. Vasco da Gama drew away against Barracas from Argentina 0-0 while Ecuador’s Deportivo Cuenca nipped Santos 1-0. Without Neymar’s star power, this Santos side continues to be limited.
In the Libertadores, Junior Barranquilla hosted Palmeiras in Colombia and kept them at a 1-1 draw. Junior benefited from Teo Gutierrez burying an early penalty as Colombian international Jhon Arias started for Palmeiras but couldn’t make a significant impact on the game. The other Colombian sides weren’t as lucky—Independiente Medellin, Santa Fe, and Tolima were only able to manage draws in the opening round, while Uruguay’s top two sides Penarol and Nacional also had draws.
The Brazilian clubs that did win—Flamengo, Cruzeiro, Mirassol and Corinthians in the Libertadores, Sao Paulo in the Sudamericana—but overall it was not the best window for the well-funded and widely supported Brazilian clubs.
Main Photo Credit: Smartframe Images
