Independiente del Valle top despite late nerves
Independiente del Valle returned to the top of Group H in the Copa Libertadores thanks to a 3-1 home win over Universidad Central, despite going down to 10 men late in the game.
The match began in atrocious conditions, with driving rain lashing across Estadio Banco Guayaquil in Quito, but it was the visitors that went ahead, creating something out of nothing as Jovanny Bolivar slotted home the opening goal on 21 minutes.
But the hosts were infront before the break scoring twice in quick succession on the cusp of half-time, first through a calm header from Jordy Alcivar before Carlos Gonzalez made up for a string of earlier misses with a second, although it was from a rebounded penalty he took.
Just after the hour mark, Gonzalez was on hand again to head home at the far post, seemingly putting the game to bed for the Ecuadorian side, but a sloppy tackle from Juan Viacav on Yeiber Murillo as he ran clear meant the defender saw red as the last man, and it was a nervy finish for the hosts.
Indeed, Universidad Central created a number of excellent opportunities in the last 10 minutes, but were wasteful in front of goal and ended the match defeated.
Independiente del Valle is top of the group with four point on goal difference from Argentina's Rosario Central in second, with Venezuela's Universidad Central third and Paraguay's Libertad last after both suffered defeats this matchday.
