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Copa Sudamericana: Castroman double punishes Cruzeiro [Fri Sep 16th, 2005]
Star striker Lucas Castroman scored twice, as Velez Sarsfield overcame Cruzeiro in a first leg quarter-final match of the Copa Sudamericana played under heavy rain in Liniers.
The side from Belo Horizonte started the match brightly, and looked to open the scoring, but a Moises free kick was well saved by Velez goalkeeper Gaston Sessa.
Velez also came close to scoring, but a powerful Sergio Sena shot from outside the box skimmed the Cruzeiro crossbar.
In the 26th minute Lucas Castroman put the home side ahead, beating Cruzeiro goalkeeper Arthur with a well struck shot to the left post.
In the 34th minute Velez doubled their lead thanks again to Castroman. Claudio Enria crossed a ball into the box from the right which Castroman expertly brought down with his chest, but had a good shot well saved by Arthur. Castroman reacted quickly and struck the rebound into the right post.
Velez didn’t sit back and went looking to liquidate the match, and it seemed likely that a flogging was on the cards. Cruzeiro was glad to go into the break just losing by two goals.
In the second half Cruzeiro came out as a different side, and Patrick came close to pulling a goal back, but Sessa pushed his left-footed drive out for a corner.
In the 51st minute Lucas Castroman could have completed his hat-trick, but had a good effort saved just in time by Irineu, after Enria swung in an inviting ball from the right.
In the 71st minute, man of the match Lucas Castroman was replaced by Mauro Zarate after spraining his right ankle. The striker, who is likely to be chosen in Argentina’s World Cup squad was given a standing ovation by the 16,000 fans at the Jose Amalfitani.
Cruzeiro began to build on the field with some fast counterattacks as they went looking for a valuable away goal, but they hesitated when some good opportunities arised.
In the 82nd minute, Claudio Enria, who was having an inspired performance could have added the home side's third, but Irineu blocked his goalward attempt.
Velez look likely to progress to the next round, but first will have to withhold the pressure in the second leg on the 28th of September in the Mineirao.
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