All set for semifinals of “Copa Bridgestone Sudamericana”

In spite of drawing the first match in Rio de Janeiro at 1-1, it was a confident group of Vasco da Gama players that traveled today to Santiago, Chile, to face local champions Universidad de Chile on Wednesday night. The kick-off is at 8:50 pm local time and the refereeing trio will be formed by Dario Ubriaco, with the assistance of linesmen Mauricio Espinosa and Miguel Nevas, (all from Uruguay). The Vasco da Gama squad will go onto the pitch at full strength, with stars such as Brazilian international Dede, (regarded the best defender in the local league) and Bernardo, one of the most promising young strikers in the country. Also accompanying the group is veteran Juninho Pernambucano, who was at Olympique Lyon for many years, and returned this year to Vasco da Gama, the team that made him famous. However, odds favour Universidad de Chile, currently unbeaten in the past 29 matches, both at Copa Sudamericana and national league, where it is first in the table with a ten point margin. Fans of “La U”(as the club is nicknamed) consider this match as one of the most important in history, since never before has the team shown such impressive form, after having been frustrated several times at international level. You may see the goals from the first match courtesy of Globoesporte at the following link:
http://sportv.globo.com/videos/copa-sul-americana/t/ultimos/v/vasco-empata-com-o-universidad-de-chile-na-semifinal-da-copa-sul-america/1707023/
The other semifinal will be played tonight in Buenos Aires between Velez Sarsfield and L.D.U of Ecuador (that won the first match by 2-0.)