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South American roundup [Tue Sep 20th, 2005]
Rio de Janeiro (Reuters) - Manuel Neira scored a 10-minute hat-trick as Chilean champions Union Espanola thumped Palestino 4-1 at the weekend.
Four coaches made debuts with their new teams in the Colombian championship, with three enjoying winning starts. Paraguay's Olimpia, who last week ended a five-month winless run, clocked up their third victory in eight days.
CHILE
Neira's quickfire hat-trick late in the game lifted Union Espanola to second in Group Four of the Clausura championship.
Neira opened his account in the 76th minute when he latched on to a defense-splitting pass from Jose Luis Sierra, scored with a long-range shot in the 84th and then took advantage of slack marking to score again two minutes later.
Colo Colo lead the group after being held 2-2 away to Group Three leaders Cobresal, who fought back with goals from Gonzalo Fierro and Hector Tapia in the last half hour after Renzo Yanez and Cesar Diaz had put the visitors in the driving seat.
Universidad Catolica, who did not play and have yet to concede a goal in eight games, and Universidad de Chile, who beat Melipilla 2-1, lead the other groups.
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COLOMBIA
America stayed top of the Finalizacion tournament with 24 points from eleven games despite going down 3-1 to Independiente Medellin in their first game under Otoniel Quintana.
Quintana replaced Argentina Ricardo Gareca, who resigned last week because of financial problems at the club.
Both Quintana and his opposite number Javier Alvarez were sent off at halftime for dissent.
Three other new coaches enjoyed winning starts with their new teams.
Once Caldas won 2-1 at Envigado as Jaime de la Pava, who began the tournament at Deportivo Cali, took over while Cali themselves beat Union Magdalena 4-2 to give Pedro Sarmiento, who started out with Independiente Medellin, a winning start.
Finally, Nolberto Peluffo, who replaced Argentina's Carlos Ischia at Atletico Junior, saw his team beat Tolima 1-0.
There have been seven coaching changes since the tournament began.
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PARAGUAY
Three-times South American champions Olimpia continued their revival under Carlos Kiese, their fifth coach this year, with a 2-0 win away to 12 de Octubre.
Second-half goals from Carlos Galvan and Wilson Ribonetto, both from corners, gave Olimpia their third win in a row since Kiese took over on September 8. Previously, they had not won since April 3.
Nacional beat Cerro Porteno 1-0 to leap-frog their opponents and go top of the Clausura championship despite having goalkeeper Miguel Cardenas sent off at halftime, first for time-wasting and then dissent.
Argentine Hebert Arriola scored the winner with a 16th minute penalty.
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PERU
Roberto Challe made his debut as coach of Alianza Lima while Jose Basualdo took charge of his last game with Universitario as the rivals drew 0-0 in their derby on Sunday.
Challe replaced Wilmer Valencia, who resigned last week, while former Argentina international Basualdo quit Universitario after local media published rumours about his private life.
Sport Ancash stayed top of the championship's second stage despite crashing 4-0 to Deportivo San Martin.
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URUGUAY
Rentistas stunned titleholders Nacional with a 3-0 win, ending their opponents' 20-match unbeaten domestic run. Marco Garcia, Carlos Aguiar and Pedro Gonzalez scored for Rentistas, while Gabriel Alvez missed a penalty for Nacional when the score was 1-0. Rentistas lead the Apertura championship with 12 points from four games.
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BOLIVIA
Bolivar cruised to a 3-0 win over arch-rivals The Strongest, who rested their top players for a Copa Sudamericana match next week.
Limberg Gutierrez and Augusto Andavaris put Bolivar 2-0 ahead in five minutes, Carmelo Angulo adding the third in the second half.
Uruguayan Jesus Leal scored a hat-trick as Destroyers beat Union Central 6-0.
Blooming lead Group A while Bolivar and Oriente Petrolero are level at the top of Group B.
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ECUADOR
Army club El Nacional beat Espoli 3-1 to stay top of the Clausura championship, five points clear of Barcelona.
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VENEZUELA
Giancarlo Maldonado scored in the third minute of injury-time to give defending champions UA Maracaibo a 1-0 win away to Mineros de Guayana in a stormy match. Maracaibo lead the first stage of the 2005/6 championship after six matches.
The referee was given a police escort off the field as angry Mineros officials protested against a series of decisions which they said went against their team.
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