My picks for Sudamericana's exciting semi matchups

	Fernando Gago (left), Rodrigo Palacio and Boca Juniors are favorites to win a second consecutive Copa Sudamericana. AP
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Once upon a time, the Copa Libertadores was South America's ultimate soccer competition. For many, it still is.

But the much-improved Copa Sudamericana has grown in prominence so much that clubs and fans alike now lust after a tournament that has room only for pulsating knockout matches.

While the expansion of the Libertadores has ballooned to 32 clubs, the selective format of the Sudamericana includes only the cream of the Americas. This year's semifinals kick off on Wednesday, and there are only four clubs left in the title hunt: Boca Juniors, Universidad Católica, Pumas UNAM and Vélez Sarsfield.

It's hard to make a call here. On one hand, you've got the in-form defending Cup champions in Boca (the Xeneizes defeated Bolivar 2-1 over two legs to win the Cup in '04), the favorite to repeat at this point. But you never know. After all, I had my money on one of the Brazilian clubs to go all the way -- particularly Carlos Tévez's Corinthians, who seemed to be too powerful for any opponent.

No one could have predicted that Corinthians -- South America's version of Real Madrid's Galácticos -- would be knocked out by Pumas, the biggest surprise team of the Sudamericana. Pumas can also count Bolivia's powerful The Strongest to their hit list. Why is all this surprising? In Mexico, Pumas are currently sitting at the bottom of their group with the second-worst record in the league -- only three wins in 16 matches.

Pumas' struggles this season have made it evident that the club is in need of drastic changes. The first to go was manager Hugo Sanchez, Mexico's greatest son, who was in charge of the club last year when it clinched the domestic double -- Clausura and Apertura championships. New boss Miguel España came up with some fresh ideas and made several changes to the team. One notable addition was the inclusion of Argentine striker Bruno Marioni, who wasn't in Sanchez's plans.

It's too late for Pumas to make a move in Mexico, which is why España came to the conclusion that the only way the club can salvage something from the year is by winning the Copa Sudamericana.

"What we are doing in the Cup no other Mexican club has done before," he said. "We hope to reach the final and win the title."

But it won't be so easy. Pumas will be up against Argentine Clausura champion Vélez Sarsfield. Miguel Angel Russo's side has stumbled recently in league, losing three of its past four matches, including a heartbreaking 2-0 defeat to rival Boca Juniors last Sunday that may have ended Vélez's title aspirations.

The only good news is that Vélez gets back some key players who were missing in the previous round of the Cup due to injuries. Strikers Claudio Enría and Rolando Zárate will return, and attacking magician Lucas Castromán is only out another two weeks -- he could be a major factor if Vélez can reach the final.