Universitario and Alianza Lima battle it out

Watch live video from verfutbolhd on www.justin.tv

As it happens this year was the inaugural year of the sub-20 version of the Copa Libertadores. The Cup, which includes teams from across South America, has been going on annually since 1960, but for the first time a separate tournament was held for teams with players who were under 20 years old. As it turns out, two local teams were pitted against one another in the semi-finals; Julio’s favorite local team Club Universitario de Deportes (often simply called “Universitario” or “La U”) versus Alianza Lima. It seemed like all of Lima was taking sides, and it certainly promised to be an exciting match!

Julio, his girlfriend Neysi, his cousin Michael, and I headed out 3 hours prior to the game – you have to get there early to get good seats! Our tickets had been bought the previous day – his cousin took one for the team and stood in a huge line for over an hour to get them. One of the great things about Peruvian soccer is that, unlike American sporting events, games are super affordable. At 5 soles ($2 US) each for such an epic match, it was a deal no one could really pass up – and it certainly seemed like all of Lima was in line!

During our (long) journey to the stadium – it was rush hour – we passed several groups of rowdy people sitting on the side of the road with the police. Julio’s explanation - soccer hooligans.

Upon arrival to the stadium, we were greeted by a throng of fans numbering in the thousands. As we were funneled toward the gate closest to our seats, I noticed that there were only other U fans surrounding us, and none for Alianza. The reason? Lima does things the right way by separating the stadium by fan-base. Each section is team-specific. There are even 12-foot spiked gates separating each section to ensure no mixing. And when the event is over, fans leave through separate exits to ensure no post-game fights! Ingenious!!!

This doesn’t, however, mean that there isn’t some good old-fashioned bragging going on in the stadium. Home-made banners adorn the section separators, and team chants can be heard throughout the game. In addition, fans sneak through the mediocre security screening toting fireworks and sparklers, setting them off (and sometimes starting small fires!) during exciting moments in the game. With all of this team enthusiasm, it’s hard not to enjoy the game, even for this non-fan.

Welcoming the players!

Universitario fans putting up home-made banners!

Alianza fans displaying their banners

Cheering on La U...the illegal way

Champions!

The game was dominated by good defense and great goalie work, and at the conclusion of the second half there was still no score. Luckily there were still penalty shots, and La U came out on top, beating Alianza 6-5. The crowd went nuts, and chants of La U’s song could be heard reverberating throughout the stadium. It was wild!

I have to say, for this non-fútbol fan, it was quite an exciting night. If you have the chance while in Lima, no matter what team is playing, I definitely recommend checking out a game or two. The atmosphere is unbeatable!

UPDATE: La U went on to win the finals and take the Cup!

Kate is a volunteer and researcher for the Karikuy Volunteer Program in Lima, Peru.

If the video above does not work please visit the following links:

http://tvperuana.pe/cmd-cable-magico-deportes-en-vivo/

http://www.teleperuana.net/2010/07/cmd-en-vivo.html

http://es.justin.tv/kiketc

http://myp2p.eu/competition.php?competitionid=&part=sports&discipline=football

http://www.tuneskatv.com/2011/06/universitario-vs-alianza-lima-en-vivo.html

http://www.visionperuanatv.com/2011/06/alianza-lima-vs-universitario-en-vivo.html

CONMEBOL South American U20 Championship Peru 2011

Stream will go live at approx 5:30pm EST we will always try to find you the clearest, reliable stream.

Click refresh before the match if the player is not live, alternatively if the stream goes down or does not work visit: http://www.rojadirecta.org/goto/www.psn-sportstv.com/p/canal-3.html

Enjoy the match.

El Estadio

For the more serious soccer fan there is El Estadio, located near the Plaza San Martin on Nicolás de Piérola 926 . The oodles of soccer memorabilia, jerseys and scarves covering the walls will definitely put you into a fan mindset once you first enter the bar. It has three floors, so choosing a place to sit can be quite difficult as every floor has its own unique qualities and soccer viewing angles. The food was excellent and I would direct your attention to the appetizer portion of the menu which I’m sure would not disappoint anyone since it is filled with a number of delicious treats and traditional Peruvian food, great for sharing with a group. And of course, El Estadio offers a wide range of beverages from Pisco to Pina Coladas in small soccer balls to good old-fashioned beer. If you are thinking about this venue don’t forget that a minimum of 30 soles (15$) must be spent per person and seats must be booked in advance as they fill up fast for each game.

The Corner

For the England vs. USA match I worked my way over to Av. Larco 1207 in Miraflores to a traditional American sports bar called The Corner – a favourite among tourists. If you are looking to break new ground in your Peruvian gastronomical exploration you have come to the wrong place since most of their menu includes traditional sports bar favourites like hamburgers, French fries, chicken wings and lots of choices that begin with the word “Buffalo”. One of my favourite things about this place is the “Corner Tower” as the bar has dubbed it; a tall cylindrical tube filled with 3 litres of delicious golden-brown beer (25$US). A minimum of 30 soles is also required of each person to spend here. The Corner is an excellent venue for watching world cup soccer since it has dozens of screens at all angles ensuring that every seat in the house is a good seat. Overall this establishment is extremely reminiscent of any American sports bar I’ve been to so if you are feeling a tad home sick and North American this is the place to be. 

Plaza de Armas

Ultimately my own personal favourite would have to be the Plaza de Armas located in El Centro de Lima where there is a large screen set up for the duration of the World Cup. It plays every game, every day and is completely open to the public free of admission. Unlike your bar or pub option is does not serve food, however a number of restaurants and vendors line the square for all your dining needs before and after a game. It is the ambiance and flux of energy that make this venue so memorable. The cameras whizzing above the crowd, people screaming and roaring in excitement, the boom of the speakers and pulse of the music all in unison make this experience the next best thing to an actual game itself. With hundreds if not thousands of people sharing in your excitement I give the Plaza de Armas a 10 out of 10 rating, because lets face it, a victory means nothing unless it is shared with others.

Christina Baker is a volunteer with Karikuy.org

20:30 From Peru (9:30 PM EST), Universitario will host Bolivian Blooming in a Group 4 match for the Copa Libertadores, played in the city of Lima.

With a victory, the Universitario will lead Group 4, taking the first option to qualify for the knockout stages of the tournament. For this reason, comments striker Piero Alva, “a win becomes indispensable, if you do not want major problems to advance in Libertadores.”

Blooming is last in the group, with a poor performance so far in the tournament, so there is confidence on the Peruvian side to achieve a favorable outcome.

Universitario has had a good campaign in the Copa Libertadores so far, so their fans hope that they finally get the classification.

The meeting will be held at the Monumental stadium, which will be conducted by a panel arbitration from Brazil.

Watch it live tonight on the Karikuy Blog. If the above video does not work please checkout these alternatives.

The starting lineups are as follows:

- UNIVERSITARIO : Raul Fernandez, Renzo Revoredo, Carlos Galvan, John Galliquio, Jesus Rabanal, Rodolfo Espinoza, Rainer Torres, Antonio Gonzales, Johan Vasquez, Victor Piriz, Piero Alva.

- BLOOMING: Andrés Jemio, Wilder Zabala, Fabricio Brandao, Omar Morales, Andres Imperiale, Alejandro Gomez, David Villalba, Lorgio Alvarez, José Chavez, Luis Carlos Vieira and Jose Alfredo Castillo.

Tonight at 8:45 PM EST, Group leaders Libertad of Paraguay and Universitario of Peru meet for the second and last time to claim a berth in the 2010 Copa Libertadores knockout round. The showdown will take place in Asuncion Paraguay, both teams remain undefeated in the groups stage, this match serving as a defining moment for both as they look to advance to the next round.

Catch the action here live beginning at 8:00 PM EST, we will be streaming the match live. For more information on the match and a comparison of both teams visit Soccerway.

- Libertad: Bernardo Medina, Victor Caceres, Adalberto Román Pedro Sarabia, Victor Ayala, Sergio Aquino, Edgar Robles Miguel Samudio, Rodolfo Gamarra, Pablo Velazquez and Javier Gonzalez. Coach: Javier Torrente.

- Universitario: Raul Fernandez, Renzo Revoredo, Carlos Galvan, John Galliquio, Jesus Rabanal, Reiner Torres, Antonio Gonzalez, Rodolfo Espinoza, Johan Vásquez, Piero Alva, Gianfranco Labarthe. Coach: Juan Reynoso.

Tonights big match (9pm EST) is between Universitario (Peru) and Libertad (Paraguay). Both teams hold the top spots with 6 points to their name in group 4 and should be a great match to watch as the winner will make in on to the knockout round of Americas most prestigious cup competition, comparable only to the Champions League in Europe.

if you have any problem with the video above head over to this link for more options.

Game time is at 6:00pm EST, Today October 10th, 2009:

Playing For Nothing But Pride

Peru find themselves bottom of the South American World Cup qualifying group, and although they have already been eliminated from World Cup contention, they will be hoping to cause a major upset in Buenos Aires. Jose Del Solar, the coach of Peru, is well aware that his side have to be very cautious of Argentina, and because of this he has named only a single striker in his attack.

“We will play for honour”, declared the Peruvians, knowing that on Saturday they will be under observation, because whichever is the outcome of the match, much will be said by rival teams, who are still hoping to secure a place in South Africa next year. After the game Peru may be accused of several things, but the side have already affirmed that they won’t think about financial incentives or nothing like that but will go for the three points, like they did when they beat Uruguay 1-0 in Lima last month.

The teams who compete with Argentina for a place in the World Cup [Chile, Ecuador, Uruguay, Colombia and Venezuela] will appreciate it very much if Argentina dropped points against Peru, because this would severely dent Argentina’s chances of reaching South Africa.

Peru are already eliminated from the World Cup, after a disastrous campaign that only saw them pick up 10 points, product of two victories, four draws and ten defeats. But they are hoping to spoil the party by picking up a rare victory at the Monumental stadium.

FORM GUIDE

Argentina

30 September (Friendly) Argentina 2-0 Ghana

9 September (WCQ) Paraguay 1-0 Argentina

5 September (WCQ) Argentina 1-3 Brazil

12 August (Friendly) Russia 2-3 Argentina

10 June (WCQ) Ecuador 2-0 Argentina

Peru

10 September (WCQ) Venezuela 3-1 Peru

5 September (WCQ) Peru 1-0 Uruguay

10 June (WCQ) Colombia 1-0 Peru

7 June (WCQ) Peru 1-2 Ecuador

1 April (WCQ) Brazil 3-0 Peru

TEAM NEWS

Argentina

Diego Maradona was furious about the fact that Pablo Zabaleta arrived in Argentina injured after turning out for Manchester City in the English Premier on Monday. But even with his absence, Maradona won’t modify tactics for the big game. Jonas Gutierrez will replace Zabaleta, but that will be the only forced changed made by Maradona. Other interesting changes were that of Pablo Aimar and Angel Di Maria in the midfield, while newcomers Emiliano Insua and Enzo Perez will also be part of the starting XI. The biggest news, however, is that Gonzalo Higuain received the nod ahead of Martin Palermo to partner Lionel Messi in Argentina’s attack.

Probable Starting XI: Romero, Gutierrez, Schiavi, Heinze, Insua, Perez, Mascherano, Di Maria, Aimar, Messi and Higuain.

Peru

Chemo Del Solar has selected a very solid side, that will intend to absorb the pressure that Argentina are likely to throw at them. Roberto Palacios is expected to be the anchor man of the side, however, he recently injured his ankle and could miss the game altogether. If he doesn’t recover in time, his place will be taken by Joel Sanchez. Johan Fano, who plays for Once Caldas of Colombia, will be the only player in Peru’s attack against Argentina.

Probable Starting XI: Butron, Prado, Zambrano, Rodriguez, Vilchez, Solano, Torres, Ballon, Vargas, Palacios and Sanchez.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Argentina - Lionel Messi

The Barcelona superstar hasn’t been able to transmit his club form into the national team, and this has been one of Argentina’s biggest problems. Now with Pablo Aimar in the midfield, Messi will be provided with plenty more service than in Argentina’s previous encounters and this could motivate the player. If Messi is able to find anything close to his top form, it will definitely improve Argentina’s chances of claiming all three points. ‘La Pulga’ will be pressured to perform by the demanding home crowd.

Peru – Juan Vargas

Vargas has been one of Peru’s only bright spots in the World Cup qualifiers, and he proved his worth in Peru’s 1-0 victory over Uruguay last month. The left-winger has become Peru’s most important player, not only because he has attracted the interest of several top European clubs, but because he has become an irreplaceable figure for the national team, and is called upon for Peru’s inspiration. The Fiorentina man will be hoping to turn on the style at the Monumental.

Gregory Sica, Goal.com

As if the rivalry between these two teams from Lima isn’t enough, they now both find themselves at the top of the table, ready for an Epic battle to become the Champion of the league. The only thing that stands in their way to victory is one another.

Watch Universitario Vs. Alianza Lima Live Streaming here @ 4:30 pm EST:

For other broadcast channels click here.

El Super Classico History (FIFA.com):

Every meeting between Universitario and Alianza Lima takes center stage in Peruvian football, and Sunday’s duel on match day 21 of the country’s Primera División will be no exception. FIFA.com takes a closer look at a rivalry as passionate and storied as Peruvian football itself.

The Origins

While the emergence of football in Peru is inextricably linked to the businessmen who brought the game from England in the late 19th century, the country’s first dedicated football club was the idea of a group of modest workers at the Alianza horse stud in the capital Lima. History shows that on 15 February 1901 Sport Alianza officially came into being, though it would not be until the 1920s that it would adopt its current name, Alianza Lima. Down through its history, however, the club has been referred to by a host of different nicknames, among the most popular being Los Íntimos, Los Blanquiazules and Los Grones.

Universitario de Deportes, in contrast, can trace its origins to Lima’s academic elite, specifically a group of students from Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos who, on 7 August 1924, founded the club under the name of Federacion Universitaria. Its current appellation dates back to 1931, when the club broke off its ties with the academic institution. As for nicknames, Los Cremas or Los Merengues (a reference to the colour of their shirts) are among the most popular today.

The teams’ social and sporting differences were in evidence from their very first meeting on 23 September 1928, when a fierce confrontation in the Peruvian league would set the tone for the nascent rivalry. With Federacion Universitaria winning 1-0, a scuffle that had begun on the pitch quickly spilled over into the stands. Piqued by the chants of the Cremas supporters, groups of Alianza fans tried to storm the Universitaria end, only to find themselves repelled by wooden batons. Henceforth that first match has been known as the Clásico de los Bastonazos (The Derby of the Batons).

Facts and figures

Alianza Lima and Universitario have faced each other a total of 322 times, with 120 wins for the former (437 goals) and 106 for the latter (411). The all-time top-scorer in the fixture is Teodoro Fernandez, who netted 26 times for Los Merengues, while Emilio Salinas managed 18 derby strikes in the colours of Los Albiazules.

The record for most derby appearances, 61, belongs to La U’s Jorge Carranza, with the late Jose Gonzales Ganoza setting the mark for Alianza Lima, having kept goal during 55 clásicos.

Equally impressive are the two sides’ records for unbeaten runs against each other: Los Cremas went eight games without tasting defeat between 1938 and 1943, while Los Íntimos did even better by managing 18 between 1979 and 1983.

The rivalry between the sides only deepened as the pair went on to become the country’s two most successful sides. Universitario can boast the greatest number of league titles (24) and Copa Libertadores appearances (26), closely followed by Alianza with 23 and 20 respectively.

Tales of Derbies Past

One of the most fabled derbies was Alianza’s record 9-1 defeat of their rivals on 12 June 1949 at a four-team tournament organised by the Asociación No Amateur, a match fans of La U still insist did not have official status. That day, Emilio ‘El Feo’ Salinas struck five times, a feat that saw him immortalised in a line of the club’s anthem, which goes “…también el Feo, y sus golazos…” (…not forgetting El Feo, and his wonder-goals…).

Also memorable were the events of 30 August 1953, the day one of Universitario’s greatest idols, Teodoro Fernandez, left the field after his final derby to the applause of the Albiazul supporters. The gesture was even more magnanimous given the fact that the striker had just netted a hat-trick in his side’s 4-2 win.

As well as fierce commitment, derby games between the sides in the 60s and 70s frequently produced some wonderful football – not entirely surprising, given the wealth of talent on display. Los Merengues could call on the likes of Hector Chumpitaz and Juan Carlos Oblitas, while Los Aliancistas boasted Teofilo ‘Nene’ Cubillas, Pedro Leon and Julio Baylon, a sextet who formed part of the legendary Peru side that won a host of admirers at the 1970 FIFA World Cup™ in Mexico.

The Lima giants have also nurtured a special rivalry in the Copa Libertadores, South America’s premier club competition. Especially remarkable was a Copa meeting in August 1988, dubbed ‘El Clásico del abandono’ (The Derby when they walked away). Losing 2-0 in the second half and down to eight men, Alianza then claimed two more of their players would have to come off with injuries, forcing the game to be suspended.

Another memorable meeting came about in 1999, when Universitario (as Apertura winners) and Alianza (as champions of the Clausura) went head to head in the final of the Torneo Descentralizado. Los Merengues took the first leg 3-0 at home and limited their opponents to a one-goal win in the return game, gaining the satisfaction of celebrating the league title at the home of their arch enemies.

The Rivalry Today

Having last won the league in 2006, their fourth title of the decade, Alianza have had more to celebrate in recent years than La U, who have not tasted league glory since 2000. That said, the latter have had the best of their recent derbies. Moreover, Los Cremas come into Sunday’s showdown three points clear of their opponents, who can ill afford to let the gap widen further if they are to mount a sustained title challenge this season.

Just who will be smiling come Sunday night remains to be seen, but expect commitment and passion aplenty at the Estadio Monumental.