Vélez return to victory with 3-0 win over Iquique

Vélez Sarsfield beat Deportes Iquique of Chile 3-0 at the José Amalfitani stadium in this city neighbourhood of Liniers yesterday in a match for the Group Four of the Libertadores Cup.

The Argentine side, who lost against Emelec in Ecuador 1-0 in the opening round of the competition and were beaten by Independiente in the Argentine league on Saturday, were the dominant force during the whole match and returned to victory with an impressive performance.

Federico Insúa put the hosts ahead in the 24th minute when he took the ball inside the box and sent the ball home with an accurate shot. Ezequiel Rescaldani doubled the difference ten minutes later after receiving a pass by Iván Bella. The striker was offside when he scored.

Vélez sealed the victory in the 68th with an own goal by Edson Puch after a free-kick by Fernando Gago.

Ricardo Gareca’s team share the second place of the group with Emelec. Both sides have three points. Peñarol won all their matches and lead the standings with six. Iquique are at the bottom with none.

Also yesterday, Chilean champions Huachipato lost 3-1 at home against Caracas of Venezuela in the Group 8.

On Tuesday, striker Iván Alonso, who left Toluca due to a heart problem last year saying he was quitting soccer, stunned the Mexican side with the winner for Uruguay’s Nacional in a 3-2 match.

Alonso, who played the full 90 minutes, scored in the 56th after two goals from fellow striker Vicente Sánchez in the previous 10 minutes had erased Toluca’s lead in the Group One match.

Alonso top-scored with 25 goals in the 2011/12 season in the Mexican first division after joining Toluca from Espanyol.

Doctors in Mexico said Alonso, who spent 11 years in Spain with Alavés, Real Murcia and Espanyol, might be able to continue playing but he stuck to his plan to leave Toluca and return home to Montevideo. He changed his mind last month during the summer recess and joined Uruguayan champions Nacional, who have won the Libertadores Cup three times, getting a shot at playing in South America’s elite club competition.

Herald staff with agencies