Dentinho and Elias scored Wednesday as Brazil's Corinthians had a
2-0 win at Racing of Uruguay to qualify for the last 16 of the Copa
Libertadores.
Universidad Catolica of Chile beat Flamengo 2-0 at home,
while Emelec of Ecuador held Internacional to a 0-0 draw in the
day's other group matches.
Corinthians, with Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos in the starting
lineup, opened up a six-point gap atop Group 1 after Dentinho's
34th-minute strike and an Elias goal in the closing stages against
Racing.
With one match group remaining, the Brazilian club has 13
points, with Racing on seven, Independiente Medellin on six and
Cerro Porteno on one.
Corinthians is in its centenary year and has signed World Cup
winners Roberto Carlos and Ronaldo in an effort to win the
Libertadores for the first time.
In the last group matches, Cerro Porteno hosts Racing and
Corinthians are at home to Independiente Medellin on April 22.
Damian Diaz opened the scoring for Universidad Catolica
against Flamengo in the third minute.
Francisco Silva doubled the lead with a left wing cross that
curled beyond goalkeeper Bruno in the 46th minute.
The result meant Universidad de Chile has secured
qualification to the next round, while Catolica renewed its hopes
of progression.
Universidad de Chile has 11 points, four points clear of
Flamengo and five ahead of Catolica.
Flamengo visits Caracas and Catolica travel to Universidad
next Wednesday.
Emelec claimed its first point of this year's tournament with
a scoreless draw at home against Internacional of Brazil in Group
5.
Deportivo Quito leads the section with 10 points, followed by
Internacional on nine, Cerro on seven and Emelec on one.
Cerro next week hosts Emelec and Internacional receives
Deportivo Quito.
The eight group winners and six best placed runners-up will
qualify for the knockout round of 16, to start next month.
