Liga de Quito close to Sudamericana victory

A year and a half after winning the Copa Libertadores, Ecuador outfit Liga de Quito are close to winning the Copa Sudamericana following a 5-1 crushing of Fluminense in the first leg of the final.

Fluminense had a perfect start in Ecuador’s capital city as Marquinho put the Brazilians in the lead in the very first minute.

But LDU recovered well and answered through no less than three goals from former PSV midfielder Edison Mendez, who found the target in the 20th, 44th and 60th minutes.

Franklin Salas then made it 4-1 in the 77th minute, and Ulises de la Cruz added a fifth and final goal with a few minutes left to play.

Although it is technically possible for ‘Flu’ to fight their way back into this clash in the return leg, which is to be played on December 2, it seems very likely that Liga de Quito clinch their second continental trophy in two years.