Barcos double puts Liga de Quito in driving seat against Velez

The Argentine sharpshooter did the damage against his compatriots, giving the 2009 winners a useful cushion to take to Buenos Aires for the second leg.A second-half double from striker Hernan Barcos gave Liga de Quito the advantage in their Copa Sudamericana clash with Velez, although the Fortin will feel they still have a chance to turn things round in the return leg back in Buenos Aires.The Argentines came out not to lose in the altitude of the Ecuadorian capital, which made for a sometimes turgid, closed-off match with little goal-mouth action. Quito controlled the tempo of the game, and tested goalkeeper Marcelo Barovero on several occasions mostly from outside the area.Just after half-time though the home side struck in the Casa Blanca, thanks to two of their Argentine contingent. Ezequiel Gonzalez released a speculative effort from distance, but Barcos was attentive enough to divert past the keeper and record his fifth goal of the tournament.The former Racing Club man's second came in the dying minutes of the encounter. Neat interplay between the Liga midfield left Barcos clean through, and from close-range he blasted the ball into the roof of the net to double the lead.Velez went close to netting during a more open second period, with Paul Ambrosi at one point having to clear off the line to prevent the away goal. They could not break down the Quito defence, however, and will have to turn around a two-goal deficit when the teams meet for the second leg on November 29.