07 May 2009
By Carlos Mauricio Ramirez and Karelis Guillermo, Caracas FC Press

This is it. Match day in Ecuador. Caracas FC will face Deportivo Cuenca in the first leg of the Copa Santander Libertadores last 16 knockout phase this afternoon as the nine-times Venezuelan champions try and book a place in the magical quarterfinal stage.

The return match will take place at the UCV’s Olympic Stadium in Caracas on Tuesday, May 12th and tickets are on sale right now in the usual outlets throughout the city.  

For those wanting to see the match live today, Wassup in Las Mercedes and El Leon in La Castellana will show the whole game live on the big screen with a scheduled 4.30pm kick off.  

Live music and surprises will be in store for those turning up as well as the appearance of official club sponsor DIRECTV adding to the occasion.  

The radio broadcast is in the hands of Deportes Union Radio 1090am with their programme coming on air at 3.30pm Venezuela time.

Having already eliminated Deportivo Anzoategui at the preliminary stage and then ousting Dvo. Tachira from the group clashes by winning their last game and seeing Boca Juniors quash the hopes of last season’s Venezuelan champions, Caracas will be keen to ensure it’s not third time lucky this season for the Ecuadoreans.

As for the Avila Reds, victories over Lanus of Argentina, Chivas of Guadalajara, Mexico and Everton of Chile all at home along with a draw in Argentina in the return match, enabled the Venezuelans to top Group Six and become the first side to do so from this country.  

That and recent Copa Santander Libertadores performances will be enough to provide the squad with more than enough confidence and experience not to be intimidated by the hostile reception than can expect to encounter this afternoon.  

Venezuelan football is now at a better level than ever before and Caracas FC will hope over the next two legs of this last 16 battle to confirm that point and reach the giddy heights of the last eight.