Colo Colo Finally Gets Trophy

After losing out in the Copa Sudamericana Final earlier this month, Colo Colo finally lifted a trophy Saturday night as they won the Chilean Clasura.

The "Cacique" defeated Audax Italiano 3-2 in Santiago to make it 6-2 on aggregate.

The victory gives Colo Colo its 25th Chilean championship title.

The title is their second of 2006, having already won this year's Apertura.

Humberto Suazo, who scored two goals on the night, became the all-time single season scorer in Chilean football history with 51 points.

Colo Colo's superstar forward was also named top international scorer in the world for 2006 by the International Federation of History and Statistic of Football (IFFHS).

Suazo finished the year with 17, one ahead of England's Peter Crouch.

Along with the celebrations, the victory will also be bittersweet, as it was Matias Fernandez' last match with Colo Colo.

The superstar midfielder leaves for Spain's Villarreal in January.

Both Colo Colo and Audax Italiano, along with Cobreloa, will represent Chile in the Copa Libertadores 2007.


Colo Colo 3-2 Audax Italiano - Second Leg - Video Highlights


Colo Colo proclaimed champion of the Chilean Season Closing tournament - CONMEBOL (new window)

IFFHS (new window)

Super Wednesday Decides Two Champions and Two Finalists

Wednesday (Thursday) will see the crowning of two champions while two others will become semifinalists.

The Argentina Apertura finally finishes with a one match playoff. The Copa Sudamericana second leg takes place in Santiago, Chile.

And the FIFA Club World Cup has one semifinal early Wednesday and another early Thursday.

Times shown are Eastern U.S.

Super Wednesday starts at 5am Eastern time and will wrap up 26 hours later.

5am: Al Ahly SC v Internacional - FIFA Club World Cup Semifinal
Internacional dig deep to reach final - FIFA Match Report (new window)

3pm: Boca v Estudiantes - Argentina Apertura Gran Final
Epic collapse - Estudiantes rally to shock Boca 2-1 for Argentine title - SI Report (new window)

7:30: Colo Colo v Pachuca - Copa Sudamericana Finals 2nd Leg
Two second-half goals propel Pachuca - AP - FoxSoccer.com Report (new window)

5am: Barcelona v Club America - FIFA Club World Cup Semifinal
We can do better, warn Barca - FIFA Match Report (new window)

Copa Sudamericana Finals U.S. TV Times - Fox Español

Copa Sudamericana Finals Second Leg
U.S. TV - Fox Español
From the Soccertv.com web site:

Wed Dec 13 04:30PM Pacific
Wed Dec 13 05:30PM Mountain
Wed Dec 13 06:30PM Central
Wed Dec 13 07:30PM Eastern
Length: 2 hr 30 min LIVE
FOX Sports en Espanol - US
Copa Sudamericana - Final - Vuelta
Colo Colo (Chile) vs Pachuca (Mexico)

First Leg:
Pachuca 1 - 1 Colo Colo
ESPN Gamecast First Leg Stats


CONMEBOL Copa Sudamericana English

CONMEBOL Copa Sudamericana Español

Pachuca 1 - 1 Colo Colo, Copa Sudamericana Finals First Leg

Humberto Suazo fired home on 50 minutes to give Colo Colo a draw in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana at Pachuca.

The hosts had dominated the first half and in the 28th were rewarded when Gabriel Caballero's 40-yard cross-field pass found Christian Gimenez open on the wing. The Argentine crossed perfectly into the box to a wide open Andres Chitiva who headed home from 6 yards out.

Even though Pachuca was having the better of it, Colo Colo were not without their chances. And just moments after the goal, Alexis Sanchez and Suazo had the Pachuca defense beat, but Sanchez' pass was poor and went straight to keeper Miguel Calero.

Pachuca had figured out a way to shut down Colo Colo superstar Matias Fernandez, smothering him with as many as three and four players every time he was on the ball.

But when the equalizer came, it would be Sanchez who would be their undoing.

The speedy forward had looked dangerous all night. And when he found himself open 25 yards from goal, he weaved through the Pachuca defense and nearly ran into Suazo at the top of the area.

Whether by design or not, Suazo took charge, taking one touch and firing a deadly strike just under Calero for the 1 - 1 final scoreline.

Even though it seemed a moral victory for the Chilean side, Pachuca will have to feel good that they were able to shut down Colo Colo's powerful offense.

However, they will certainly feel like they had a chance to put Colo Colo in peril just moments before the equalizer. Pachuca's Juan Carlos Cacho was put in all alone and from 12 yards out, fired straight at keeper Sebastian Cejas.

Colo Colo has the benefit of returning to their raucous home for the second leg, but may need to find a way to involve Fernandez if they hope to lift the Copa Sudamericana trophy.

SoccerGolazo Player of the Match: Pachuca's Christian Gimenez

CONMEBOL Español (ventana nueva)

Related:
Copa Sudamericana Finals
Pachuca, Copa Sudamericana Finalists
Colo Colo, Copa Sudamericana Finalists

Copa Sudamericana Finals US TV Times

From soccertv.com:

Thu Nov 30 05:00PM Pacific
Thu Nov 30 06:00PM Mountain
Thu Nov 30 07:00PM Central
Thu Nov 30 08:00PM Eastern
Length: 2 hr 30 min LIVE
FOX Sports en Espanol - US
Copa Sudamericana - Final - Ida
Pachuca (Mexico) vs Colo Colo (Chile)

ESPN LIVE UPDATES (new window)

Copa Sudamericana Finals - Soccer Golazo

This schedule is from the official CONMEBOL web site: http://www.conmebol.com/

Finals
No | Date | City | Match | Result | Referee
65 - 30.11.06 19.15 - Pachuca - Pachuca CF v Colo Colo - SILVERA Roberto (URU)
66 - 13.12.06 21.30 - Santiago - Colo Colo v Pachuca CF


Pachuca 1-1 Colo Colo


ESPN LIVE UPDATES (new window)


CONMEBOL Español (ventana nueva)
CONMEBOL English (new window)