Luis Checa scored the winning goal as Ecuador's Deportivo Quito
moved closer to qualifying for the second stage of the Copa
Libertadores with a 2-1 win over Cerro of Uruguay on Tuesday.
Universidad de Chile also improved its chances of advancing
to the Round of 16 with a 3-1 away win over Caracas of Venezuela.
Deportivo Quito now has 10 points atop Group 8, two ahead of
Internacional, which has a game in hand. Universidad moved to 11
points atop Group 5, a lead of four over Flamengo, which also has a
game in hand.
The eight group winners and six best placed runners-up
qualify for the knockout round of 16, scheduled for next month.
The Copa Libertadores is the top club competition in Latin
America. The tournament takes a break after the quarterfinal stage
to make way for the World Cup, with the semifinals and final held
in July and August.
Isaac Mina gave Deportivo the lead against Cerro, scoring
from a low corner in the 20th minute.
Claudio Dadomo equalized with a penalty in the 25th minute,
but Checa headed the winner at the back post in the 86th to give
Deportivo victory.
Cerro dropped to third place after the loss, three points
behind Deportivo with one group match remaining.
Mauricio Victorino got Universidad started on its way to a
comfortable win at Caracas, prodding the opening goal past
goalkeeper Renny Vega following a left wing freekick in the 18th
minute.
Juan Olivera increased the lead with a 32nd-inute penalty and
Matias Rodriguez made it 3-0 in the 35th.
Alejandro Guerra was sent off for Caracas in the 66th minute,
but Cesar Gonzalez still managed a consolation goal for the
Venezuelan club in the 76th.
The win guaranteed a top two finish for Universidad, while
Caracas remained at the bottom of the group with two points.
