Velez Sarsfield made a great start in Copa Libertadores Group 7 on Tuesday, cruising to a 3-0 away win over Uruguayan club Defensor Sporting.
In an even contest, neither goalkeeper was truly tested until the 42nd minute when Yonatan Irrazabal picked up Andres Fleurquin's back pass and Sebastian Dominguez stepped up to take the resultant indirect free kick from just inside the box.
His effort was only partially cleared away and when Emiliano Papa's cross found David Ramirez, he fired low and squeezed the ball in at the near post.
Ricardo Gareca's men sealed the win in the 81st minute when Fernando Ortiz headed the ball towards goal from a corner and Mauro Obolo was on hand to lash home a debut goal from close range.
Centre-back Dominguez then hit a stunning free kick moments later that secured a comfortable win for the visitors.
Elsewhere in Group 7, Ecuadorian club Deportivo Quito played out a 1-1 draw with Guadalajara in Mexico.
Deportivo took the lead after just eight minutes through Matias Alustiza, but the hosts hit back in the 93rd minute of the match with a goal from winger Omar Arellano.
And in Group 4, Brazilians Fluminense enjoyed a 1-0 home win over Argentine side Arsenal to kick off their campaign with a victory.
Striker Fred scored the decisive goal after just three minutes at the Estadio Olimpico Joao Havelange in a spiteful affair that saw the hosts finish the match with nine men.
Wagner and Nicolas Aguirre were both dismissed after a brawl in the 75th minute, the former kicking an Arsenal player before the latter defended his team-mate with a shove to the Flu player.
Leandro Euzebio also saw red for a kick in stoppage time but Flu secured the three points.
0 - 1 |
42' D. Ramírez
|
|
0 - 2 |
||
0 - 3 |
86' S. Domínguez
|
| # | Player | Bookings |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Y. Irrazábal | |
| 6 | N. Moiraghi | |
| 2 |
R. Arias
|
|
| 11 |
N. Olivera
|
|
| 23 | A. Fleurquin | |
| 10 | B. Alemán | |
| 15 | Diego Martín Rodríguez | |
| 20 | Diego Manuel Rodríguez | |
| 19 | F. Pintos | |
| 16 |
I. Risso
|
|
| 8 | D. Rolan | |
| Coach: G. Díaz | ||
| # | Player | Bookings |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | M. Barovero | |
| 6 | S. Domínguez |
 86'
|
| 3 | E. Papa | |
| 19 | F. Ortiz | |
| 16 |
V. Zapata
|
|
| 5 | F. Cubero |
 73'
|
| 8 | A. Fernández | |
| 10 |
D. Ramírez
|
42'
|
| 18 | F. Cerro | |
| 9 | M. Obolo |
81'
|
| 7 |
J. Martínez
|
|
| Coach: R. Gareca | ||
| # | Player | Bookings |
|---|---|---|
| 25 |
for I. Risso 68' |
|
| 18 |
for N. Olivera 78' |
|
| 21 |
for R. Arias 79' |
84'
|
| 5 | ||
| 9 | ||
| 12 | ||
| 22 |
| # | Player | Bookings |
|---|---|---|
| 20 |
for J. Martínez 63' |
|
| 11 |
for V. Zapata 79' |
|
| 24 |
for D. Ramírez 84' |
|
| 2 | ||
| 4 | ||
| 23 | ||
| 25 |
