Internacional of Brazil and Argentine club Velez Sarsfield both
secured wins in the Copa Libertadores group stage on Tuesday.
Morelia of Mexico played out a goalless draw with Uruguay's
Nacional in the day's final match.
Alecsandro scored a late winner as Internacional had a 2-1
home win against Ecuadorean club Emelec, while Hernan Lopez hit the
only goal as Velez beat Deportivo Italia of Venezuela 1-0 away.
Morelia striker Miguel Sabah was sent off for headbutting an
opponent during his club's 0-0 draw with Nacional.
The Copa Libertadores is the top club competition in Latin
America. Eight group winners and the six best placed runners-up
will qualify for the round of 16.
In Porto Alegre, Nei equalized for Internacional from long
range in the 53rd minute after Emelec had taken the lead through a
low shot from David Quiroz in the 49th.
The Brazilian club secured a winning start to its
Libertadores campaign with a winner from Alecsandro following a
pass from Andresinho in the 87th.
The win moved Internacional level with Cerro of Uruguay at
the top of Group 5 after one game played.
Meanwhile, in Caracas, Velez striker Lopez bundled the
winning goal against Deportivo Italia following a corner in the
54th minute as Velez secured a second straight victory to top Group
7.
Chilean club Colo Colo can draw level with Velez at the top
of Group 7 tomorrow with an away win against Cruzeiro of Brazil.
In Mexico, Morelia finished with ten men after Sabah was sent
off in the 85th minute against Nacional. The draw kept Nacional
second in Group 6, two points behind leader Banfield after two
matches.
Morelia is third with one point from two matches, with Cuenca
in last place.
