Latin American Roundup

Toluca makes Mexican semifinals but coach quits

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -- Toluca coach Wilson Graneolatti, unhappy after club directors tried to temporarily bring back his predecessor for the final stages of the Mexican championship, resigned after steering his team into the semifinals at the weekend.

Graneolatti, who took over in October after Ricardo Lavolpe was appointed coach of Mexico, said he was defending his dignity after the club's attempt to reinstate Lavolpe following Wednesday's 2-1 defeat to Guadalajara in the first leg of the quarter-finals.

"I've stopped being the coach and I'm doing it for my dignity," Graneolatti told reporters after his team won the second leg 3-0 to go through 4-2 on aggregate.

"I took the decision before the start of the match, I don't want to lose my decency. I've got nothing against the club," added Graneolatti, who was previously Lavolpe's assistant.

Toluca's attempt to borrow Lavolpe for the second leg failed because he was in El Salvador with Mexico's under-20 team. But club president Rafael Lebrija said he still wanted the former Argentine goalkeeper back for the closing stages.

Lavolpe's return depends on approval from the Mexican Football Federation.

Mexican Salvador Carmona, Paraguayan Jose Cardozo and Uruguayan Vicente Sanchez scored in the last 15 minutes of the second leg to take Toluca through. Cardozo took his tally to 31 goals in 21 matches after scoring for the 13th match in a row.

Toluca were joined in the last four by UNAM, Morelia and Santos Laguna.

Major upset

Santos Laguna pulled off a major upset by ousting defending champions America, who had finished top of the qualifying stage. Santos went through 5-4 on aggregate after a 2-1 away win at a stunned Azteca stadium.

Mexican international Jared Borgetti, returning from a three-match suspension, fired Santos in front before halftime and America's German Villa headed into his own net from a 64th minute corner.

Cuauhtemoc Blanco pulled one back from the penalty spot but it was too late for Mexico's richest club.

UNAM, coached by former Real Madrid and Mexico striker Hugo Sanchez, beat Cruz Azul 3-2 to qualify after the first leg had finished goalless.

Uruguayan Alvaro Gonzalez struck twice to give UNAM a 2-0 halftime lead. Compatriot Sebastian Abreu pulled one back but a Melvin Brown own goal effectively ended Cruz Azul's challenge in the 78th minute.

Brazilian Alex Fernandes, Argentine Hernan Bujan and Mexican internationals Javier Saavedra and Adolfo Bautista were on target as Morelia hammered UAG 4-1 to complete a 7-2 aggregate win.

Uruguay

Charismatic striker Richard Morales scored two minutes from time as Nacional beat Danubio 2-1 to take the title. Nacional completed a 4-2 aggregate win against the rank outsiders who had qualifyied for the final at the expense of Penarol.

The title ended a turbulent season in which Nacional's players staged a go-slow -- refusing to train more than once a day or take part in pre-match "concentration" -- in protest at late payment of the wages.

Morales tapped in an easy 88th minute chance created by his 20-year-old striking partner Horacio Peralta as he hit headlines once again.

In the last three years, Morales has twice ended up in police custody -- once for fighting in a nightclub and once for his part in a brawl at the end of a derby against Penarol.

Last year, he scored twice as a substitute as Uruguay beat Australia 3-0 to reach their first World Cup in 12 years but at the tournament he missed a last minute chance against Senegal which would have sent his team into the second round.

Danubio, who have only won one title, lost veteran Argentine striker Claudio Biaggio after only five minutes through injury, then missed a 13th minute penalty when Marcelo Sosa's kick was saved by goalkeeper Gustavo Munua.

Three minutes later, defender Andres Scotti outjumped a static Danubio defense to head Nacional in front.

Danubio put themselves back in the hunt when striker Diego Perrone equalized in the 63rd minute.

Nacional have won 28 titles since Uruguayan football turned professional in 1932 compared to Penarol's 35.

Ecuador

Emelec beat arch-rivals Barcelona 2-0 in their Guayaquil derby to leave both teams, plus El Nacional, level at the top of the championship's final stage with two games left.

The Electrics stunned their rivals with goals by Walter Ayovi and Moises Cuero in front of a capacity 30,000 crowd at their Capwell stadium.

El Nacional, a club founded and still partly financed by the Ecuadorean army, also caught up with Barcelona thanks to a 3-1 win over Liga de Quito in their Quito derby.

Colombia

Provincial clubs Bucaramanga and Pasto, neither of whom have won the championship before, stayed top of the two semifinal groups after the weekend's matches.

Bucaramanga picked up a valuable point in a 1-1 draw at Tolima thanks to a goal by Orlando Ballersteros and an excellent performance from goalkeeper Daniel Velez.

Medellin and Deportivo Cali drew 1-1 in the group's other game. Bucaramanga have seven points from four games, two more than Tolima and Medellin.

Jairo Patino, Pablo Jaramillo and Walter Escobar gave Pasto a 3-1 win over Union Magdalena and kept them one point ahead of defending champions America, who beat Atletico Nacional 2-1.

Peru

Sporting Cristal, who clinched the title on Wednesday, crashed to a 5-2 defeat against struggling Juan Aurich in their final game as their celebrations fell flat.

Rodolfo Minan scored twice and Wilmer Carrillo, Adrian Torres and Marco Salinas shared the other goals as Juan Aurich set up a relegation playoff with Deportivo Wanka after both teams finished level on points in the overall standings.

Melgar's Argentine striker Luis Artime finished as top scorer with 24 goals after taking the winner in a 2-1 win at Universitario, the club which has dominated the last decade.

Universitario won the first stage of the championship but then had to disband because of a financial crisis.

They lost the right to take part in the end-of-season final after finishing 11th in the second stage, allowing second stage winners Sporting Cristal to take the title automatically.

Two weeks ago, players staged a 10-day strike, forcing the club to field an under-20 team in one match.

Sunday's match was watched by fewer than 1,000 fans at Universitario's 80,000-capacity stadium and coach Oswaldo Piazza announced his resignation after only six months in charge.

Bolivia

Oriente Petrolero claimed the runners-up spot in the championship after beating The Strongest in playoff, winning on penalties after Sunday's match ended scoreess.

Both clubs were already certain of joining champions Bolivar in next year's South American Libertadores Cup.

Oriente striker Jose Castillo finished the championship with 46 goals, three behind topscorer Joaquin Botero of Bolivia.

Chile

The favorites all reached the semifinals of the Clausura championship, Universidad Catolica, Cobreloa and Colo Colo winning their ties easily and Universidad de Chile scraping through on away goals against Huachipato.

Universidad de Chile drew their second leg 1-1, taking the lead with a controversial 84th minute goal by Luis Pinilla.

Cobreloa, who dominated the qualifying stage of the tournament, beat Deportes Concepcion 2-1 to complete a 4-1 aggregate win.

Colo Colo's 3-1 win at Cobresal gave them a 7-2 aggregate win and titleholders Universidad Catolica dispatched Wanderers 6-1 after their 2-1 win on Sunday.

 

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