Juan Carlos Osorio, who guided the New York Red Bulls to a runner-up finish in 2008 but resigned in the middle of the 2009 season as they compiled the league's worst record, is coaching Once Caldas in his native Colombia. On Thursday, Once Caldas overcame a one-goal deficit in the first half en route to a 2-1 triumph over Brazil's Sao Paulo in the Copa Libertadores, South America's equivalent of the European Champions League.

The win follows a 2-0 victory over Paraguay's Nacional in its group opener on Feb. 9, giving Once Caldas a perfect six points from two games. Once Caldas, surprise winner of the 2004 Copa Libertadores, leads Group 2, ahead of Sao Paulo, Mexico's Monterrey (3 points each) and pointless Nacional.

Former Red Bulls r ight defender Carlos Johnson, who was released by the MLS club last week, played for Once Caldas against Sao Paulo.