Copa Libertadores, Matchday 3: Universidad De Chile And Velez Sarsfield Destroy Opposition

Perhaps The Strongest is going to force everyone to learn a little more about the Bolivian clubs in the Copa Libertadores. After defeating defending champions Santos FC in their first match, they won again on Thursday against Juan Aurich. Thursday's other two games had slightly surprising results, shaking up Group 2 and Group 3.

The Strongest 2-1 Juan Aurich

Juan Aurich scored the opening goal on an embarrassing own goal by The Strongest goalkeeper Daniel Vaca, but they wouldn't do much after that. In the 23rd minute, Vaca looked to be in position to make a routine knockdown and grab on a stinging free kick, but knocked the ball between his legs and over the line. His team made up for his error three minutes later, when Sebastian Gonzalez equalized with a great chested control and volley into the back of the net. It took until the 76th minute, but Pablo Escobar eventually found a deserved winner for the hosts.

Olimpia 2-1 Lanus

Lanus have looked very good so far in 2012, but they met their match on Thursday with a tricky trip to Paraguay. Olimpia needed a home win against Lanus to feel good about their qualification chances in a group with Lanus, Flamengo and Emelec and got exactly that with a great performance. Vladimir Marin scored the opener on an incredible long free kick that looked like it was intended for a teammates' head, but went directly into the goal. Carlos Araujo netted a great equalizer in the 71st minute, stepping up from right back on a sustained attack, but Olimpia would find a winner. Marin was involved again, setting up the little Argentine and cousin of Lionel Messi, Maximiliano Biancuchi for the 79th minute goal.

Universidad Catolica 2-2 Junior

UC have gotten themselves into a little bit of trouble with a home draw against the current bottom team in Group 3. They jumped out to a 2-0 first half lead, but tried to sit on it a bit and were punished. Felipe Gutiérrez scored both goals for the Chilean side, netting the first on a free kick and the second from open play, rounding the keeper and hitting a great finish from a narrow angle. UC had a 2-0 lead after 26 minutes, but Junior would score twice in the second half.

Junior's first goal came on a howler and their second on a fluke. In the 52nd minute, a Vladimir Hernandez header somehow went straight through the hands of Cristopher Toselli. The second came off a massive deflection, with Héctor Quiñónes taking the credit. It wasn't necessarily a deserved point for Junior, but they'll take them any way they can get them. Group favorites Universidad Catolica now have just two points and sit four points behind leaders Union Española.

Velez Sarsfield and Universidad de Chile have firmly established themselves as two of the big favorites to win Copa Libertadores in 2012. Velez followed up their 3-0 away victory against Defensor Sporting with an equally impressive win against Chivas Guadalajara on Wednesday night, while La U recovered from a bad first match to crush the previously impressive Godoy Cruz.

Universidad de Chile 5-1 Godoy Cruz

In their first Copa Libertadores match away to Atletico Nacional, La U were poor. Not only did they lose 2-0, but they only managed one shot. Apparently, they decided that they wanted to play well on Wednesday night and completely demolished Godoy Cruz.

Godoy Cruz has a win and a draw in Argentina -- with the draw coming against Velez -- and won their only Libertadores match against Peñarol coming into Wednesday. Their defense looked much improved from last season, but the Godoy Cruz defense of old showed up in Santiago. Once Junior Fernandez scored the opener in the 29th minute, things got ugly.

La U would go on to score three goals in the first half, adding their other goals in the 72nd and 90th minutes. Fernandez scored a hat trick, while Gustavo Lorenzetti and Angelo Hernandez scored the other goals. Lorenzetti also had two assists in a brilliant performance. Leonardo Signali scored Godoy Cruz's only goal.

Velez Sarsfield 3-0 Chivas Guadalajara

It took until the 67th minute for Mauro Obolo -- potentially the signing of the season in Argentina -- to put Velez on the board, but Chivas were well and truly embarrassed after that. Federico Insua scored the next two goals, the first a tap-in assisted by Obolo and the second a thunderous half-volley from 20 yards out.

Chivas are still winless in all competitions. The Mexican giants had high expectations coming into this season, but they're quickly turning into a massive joke.

The opening fixtures of this week's Copa Libertadores action featured some emphatic scores, with four clubs winning by multiple goals. Three teams took themselves to six points with their emphatic wins and established themselves as group favorites, while another gave themselves new life.

Peñarol 0-4 Atletico Nacional

It may not be too early to declare that the runners-up from last season are as good as done. They were always going to struggle to advance out of a loaded Group 8, but if they can't keep it respectable against Atletico Nacional at home, there's no reason to believe they can go on the road and get points from anyone.

The first goal came in the 9th minute on an absolutely stunning finish by Jherson Cordoba, who curled a beautiful low shot around Fabian Carini, barely sneaking the ball into the neat at the back post. Cordoba scored a second just after halftime, assisted by Dorlan Pabon with a brilliant flicked header, and the game felt like it was over at that point. Pabon would go on to score two goals of his own late in the rout. Atletico Nacional now have six points, which includes a win over Universidad de Chile.

Bolivar 1-3 Union Española

Bolivar were never expected to make the knockout stages of the tournament, but trips to La Paz for the other three teams in Group 3 could be decisive. Union Española passed that test on Tuesday, though things got off to a rocky start. Edhemir Rodríguez scored for Bolivar less than a minute into the match and they would defend well for the entirety of the first half, but the second half was a different story.

Mauro Diaz finally got the visitors on the board with a spectacular shot over the head of Marcus Arguello, who was off his line, in the 62nd minute. They would take the lead just four minutes later on a quick counter attack, with Emanuel Herrera scoring off of a through ball by Fernando Cordero. Jean Paul Pineda would clinch the win that took Union Española to six points in the group with a goal in the 85th minute.

Arsenal di Sarandi 3-0 Zamora

Last week, Zamora packed everyone behind the ball and fouled constantly as they drew 0-0 with Boca Juniors. Boca's compatriots Arsenal wouldn't give them the chance to do it a second time. Jorge Alberto Ortíz scored for Arsenal 75 seconds in and Zamora would never find a reply. Carlos Carbonero scored his team's second on a corner kick and Luciano Leguizamón wrapped up the scoring with a goal at the end of a counter attack.

Cruz Azul 4-0 Deportivo Tachira

Deportivo Tachira drew Corinthians at home on the first match day, but the trip up to Mexico City was not so kind for them. The first half went just fine, but the second half featured a Cruz Azul shooting gallery. The first goal came on a penalty, and it was a soft one. Andrés Rouga was judged to have taken down Javier Aquino in the box in the 17th minute and was shown a yellow card, but the contact between the two was minimal. Adrian Cortes stepped up and buried the penalty, and that would be the only goal the Blue Machine scored in the first half.

Edixon Perea sealed the win with his 54th minute goal, and everything from then until the end was a bonus. Goal poacher and continental competition specialist Javier Orozco scored the third goal and 'Tito' Emmanuel Villa rounded out the scoring.