South American roundup

Alianza Lima wins first Peru stage as Universitario has three ejected

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) -- Alianza Lima won the first stage of the Peruvian championship with a 1-0 victory over Universitario, who had three players sent off on a chaotic weekend in the country that hosted last month's Copa America.

A photographer fell into a moat surrounding the pitch at the same match, while Cienciano's game at Alianza Atletico was abandoned after a linesman was injured by objects thrown from the crowd.

Millonarios, once one of the world's richest clubs, slumped to the bottom of the Colombian championship after crashing 3-0 at home to modest Atletico Huila.

PERU

Alianza Lima won the first stage of the championship with a game to spare but there was little for Peruvian football to celebrate.

Veteran Waldir Saenz scored the only goal in the 13th minute but the match degenerated into an ill-temperered affair peppered with bad challenges and heated exchanges.

Argentine Daniel Cicogna missed a 61st-minute penalty for Universitario whose frustration boiled over when Cicogna, former Coventry City striker Israel Zuniga and Jose Mendoza were sent off in the last 15 minutes.

The first two red cards followed a brawl and a photographer who came on to the field was injured when he fell into the ditch, media reports said. Play was held up for nearly 10 minutes before he was taken to hospital.

Universitario appeared to have learned nothing from an earlier match away to Cienciano when they had five players sent off.

Alianza Lima went eight points clear of Cienciano, who have one game to play plus the remainder of the game at Alianza Atletico which was abandoned.

Play was halted in first-half injury time when missiles rained down on one of the linesmen, who was taken to hospital with a gashed forehead. Cienciano were leading 3-1.

COLOMBIA

Millonarios, arguably the world's richest club during the Colombian pirate league of the 1950s, lie bottom of the Clausura championship after their latest fiasco.

Armando Carrillo scored a second-half hat-trick as Atletic Huila's 3-0 win left Millonarios, who have won a record 13 domestic titles, floundering at the foot of the table with one point from four games.

Tolima lead with a maximum 12 points after beating Santa Fe 2-1.

Leider Preciado put the visitors in front with a far post header after 25 minutes. Ricardo Ciciliano equalised in the 63rd minute and Ivan Velasquez scored the winner with a brilliant 30-metre strike two minutes later.

South American champions Once Caldas also came from behind as they moved up to seventh with a 2-1 win at Union Magdalena.

BOLIVIA

Oriente Petrolero striker Augusto Andavaris scored but was later sent off as his team were held 1-1 by Blooming in their Santa Cruz derby before a 25,000 crowd.

Blooming were on the ropes after Renny Ribero was sent off in the 21st minute and Andaveris scored 10 minutes later.

But Andaveris turned villain when he missed two easy chances to add to his tally and was dismissed for a bad tackle in the 81st minute. In between, Argentine Eduardo Iachetti equalised for the sky blues.

Bolivar and The Strongest also drew 1-1 in their La Paz derby. Veteran international defender Marco Sandy headed Bolivar in front after half an hour. Argentine Ignacio Brown equalised for the Tigers in the second half.

CHILE

Colo Colo's 100 percent record in the Clausura championship ended when they were held 2-2 at home by Cobreloa.

The visitors twice led through Jonathan Cisternas and Mauricio Dinamarca, with Juan Lorco and Marcelo Veron replying.

Defending champions Universidad de Chile crashed to a shock 2-0 defeat at Puerto Montt where Alvaro Sarabia scored both goals.

ECUADOR

Barcelons stayed top of the championship's second stage despite being held to a goalless draw by Espoli.

El Nacional striker Evelio Ordonez scored his 16th goal of the tournament as the army club were held 1-1 by Deportivo Quito in their derby. Raul Guerron had put Deportivo ahead.

Gustavo Figueroa scored both goals, taking his tally to 14, as first stage winners Aucas won for only the second time in ten matches in the second stage, beating Emelec 2-0.

Copyright 2004 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.