by Marc Serber

Universidad de Chile is 90 minutes away from its first ever international title heading into tonight’s home leg with a 1-0 lead over LDU Quito.

Normally that one goal would have double importance, but away goals do not count as a tie-breaker in the final. Nevertheless, La U was brilliant in the away leg. The Chileans beat the former Copa Sud winners at their own game. Pressuring them high up the field for 90 minutes without wilting in the altitude of Quito.

“The first leg proved that U de Chile are able to establish their game no matter where they play,” remarked commentator Roger Valdivieso who will have the English call of the game on Fox Deportes via SAP (Secondary Audio Programming).

“In the first leg, U de Chile defender Albert Acevedo absolutely smothered LDU’s creative midfielder Ezequiel Gonzalez, giving him no time on the ball to link up with Hernan Barcos. If Gonzalez can get free and find Barcos, then we will have a series, but if Acevedo and central defender Marcos Gonzalez play the way they did in the first leg then they can control LDU and take them out of the game.”

Eduardo Vargas scored his ninth goal of the tournament with a slick finish after rounding the LDU keeper on a breakaway for the winner in the first leg. If LDU want to keep this series alive then they will have to keep Vargas under wraps.

“Being down, LDU need to press U de Chile further up the field,” Valdivieso remarked, “but they need to be aware of Vargas who is pretty much unstoppable at the moment.”

Despite the slight advantage, U de Chile head coach Jorge Sampaoli has promised his side will not sit back and defend but rather continue to impose its style by constantly looking to go forward.

LDU Quito is without three of its biggest players in Ulises de la Cruz, Patricio Urrutia and captain Neicer Reasco, but the spine of the side is largely made up of players that lifted the Copa Sudamericana in 2009 as well as the Copa Libertadores just a year earlier. Experience is on the visitors side and while there is tremendous pressure, LDU doesn’t have the same burden as the XI men for La U of trying to deliver a first ever international title in the history of the club.

If U de Chile can extend its unbeaten run to 35 games, then they will be champions of the 2011 Copa Bridgestone Sudamericana. LDU Quito cannot be counted out, however, as the Ecuadorian giants need just one break to even the score.

The first 90 minutes in Quito were pulsating and intense. The final 90 is sure to be electrifying and nail-biting. Then pendulum shifts ever so slightly towards U de Chile, but it is still anybody’s game.