Independiente slipped up again this weekend but still manage to hold on to 1st place. Los negriazules (The black and blues)were thumped 3-0 by Manta giving Liga, Emelec and Barcelona the chance to catch up.
The Guayquil clubs siezed their chanceby claiming the full 3 points but Liga de Quito drew again in the Casa Blanca leaving them 1 point behind.
For many the Independiente result is a sign that the young team is feeling the pace and pressure. With the league moving into the final stages experience may be the most important factor for the champions.
Hopefully Independiente will keep their unlikely dream alive and use the Manta defeat as a wake up call for the remainder of the season.
Photo courtesy of FutbolEcuador
Deportivo Quito do not have problems to seek after last Thursday’s disaster in Santiago. The Copa Libertadores humbling was seemingly too much to take for the clubs directors so they dually fired their Argentinian coach, Carlos Ischia. The former Boca Juniors manager has not set the heather alight since his appointment last year and the Ecuadorian champions currently lag behind in 7th place. This together with Ischia’s recent criticisms of the board led his premature departure despite their being a Quito derby with El Nacional today.
League standings 15/05/2012
# Team MP GD P
1 Independiente 15 +6 26
2 LDU Quito 15 +12 25
3 Emelec 14 +11 25
4 Barcelona 15 +11 25
5 LDU Loja 14 +2 23
6 Dep Cuenca 15 -4 23
7 Dep Quito 14 +7 18
8 Manta 15 -1 17
9 Macará 15 -4 17
10 El Nacional 14 -9 16
11 Universitario 15 -9 12
12 Olmedo 15 -22 8
This week’s results have created a split within the league with Independiente, Liga, Barcelona, Emelec’ Loja and Deportivo Cuenca moving away from the rest.
However with only 3 points between 1st and 6th the championship is still wide open.
Alistair McLauchlan 
Leave a Reply