Chile And Colombia Won First Games

Chile and Colombia celebrated the opening of the 2001 Copa America Cup, so called the World Cup of Latin America, by winning their first games.

At the first game in the preliminary round held in Barranquilla, Colombia, Chile pounded Ecuador 4 -1 with the `rising star` Christian Montecinos’ two goals and two assists, although their `Sa-Za line` two-tops Marcele Salas and Ivan Zamorano were absent.

With about 40,000 spectators packing the stadium, Chile began to suppress Ecuador as soon as the game started. At 29th minute, Chile scored their first goal with Reinaldo Navia’s 20 meter mid-range shot assisted by Montecinos.

Even though Chile shrunk back for a while at 7th minute in the second half with Ecuador’s Javier Chala’s equalizing goal, a stunning overhead scissor-kick, in the 28th minute, they retook the lead with Montecino’s 40 meter right-foot `missile shot`. Montecinos has risen as the day’s hero by assisting Corrales’ third goal of the game at 41st minute and scoring himself the last goal right before the game-ending whistle.

At the following game, Colombia downed `the effete` Venezuela 2 - 0, but the quality of the game was not so good.

Although Colombia beat Venezuela by two goals with Freddy Grisales’ surprise shot at 15th minute in the first half and the penalty kick by Victor Hugo Aristizabal at the 15th minute, they had to be satisfied with the win as they could not effectively deal with Venezuela’s defense and counter attacks.

Bae Keuk-In bae2150@donga.com