Argentine club Banfield and Peru's Universitario earned wins
Wednesday to lead their Copa Libertadores groups.
Sebastian Fernandez scored twice to help Argentine league
champion Banfield win 4-1 to Cuenca of Ecuador, while Universitario
claimed a 2-0 victory over Lanus of Argentina.
Walter Erviti and James Fernandez also scored for Banfield,
which moved to the top of Group 6 with maximum points from two
games played.
Gabriel Mendez scored a late penalty for Cuenca.
Piero Alva and Gianfranco Labarthe scored for Universitario
to move the Peruvian team level with Paraguay's Libertad at the top
of Group 4.
In Ecuador, Erviti hit the top corner of the net from 25
meters to give Banfield the lead over Cuenca in the 38th minute.
Fernandez poked the second in from close range two minutes later.
Fernandez headed in Banfield's third after a handling error
from Cuenca's Argentine goalkeeper Esteban Dreer in the 60th and
James Rodriguez finished a breakaway move in the 71st.
Banfield finished with 10 men after Marcelo Bustamente was
sent off for shoving Jorge Ladines while in the box. Mendez scored
from the 87th minute penalty.
Nacional of Uruguay can draw level with Banfield at the top
of Group 6 with a win against Mexican club Morelia next Tuesday.
In Peru, Alva rode challenges on the edge of the box before
hitting a shot off the left hand post to open the scoring for
Universitario.
Labarthe headed a second in the 88th minute as Lanus
committed players forward in search of an equalizer.
Universitario has two wins from two matches. Lanus and
Bolivia's Blooming have lost both opening Group 4 matches.
The Copa Libertadores is the premium club competition in
Latin America. The eight group winners, as well as six best placed
runners-up, will qualify for the round of 16.
Mexican clubs Guadalajara and San Luis were given byes to the
last 16 after being forced to pull out of last year's tournament at
the same stage due to the swine flu outbreak.
The group phase continues Thursday with Alianza Lima vs.
Estudiantes and Universidad de Chile vs. Caracas.
