Copa Libertadores: Matchday 8

In Group One Sport Recife wrapped up first place in the Group after winning an entertaining game against the already eliminated holders LDU Quito in Ecuador. Carlos Espínola put the hosts ahead in the second minute before Andrade enqualised for Sport. The home side were reduced to ten men after 33 when defender Néicer Yano was red carded by referee Juan Soto, but LDU went in half time ahead after a strike from Danny Carpio. Sport came out firing in the second half Igor Soares restoring parity before a second form Andrade 12 minutes form time gave Sport the top placing in the group. LDU finished with 9 men after Diego Calderón was dismissed in injury time. In Santiago the task for Palmeiras was simple, they had to win to qualify and they made a bright start against Colo-Colo. Libertadores leading scorer Keirrison twice hitting the woodwork in the first half hour. The task got harder for Palmeiras as Marcão was sent off for a second yellow card inside three second half minutes. Palmeiras didn't give up and with 3 minutes left Cleiton Xavier broke Colo-Colo hearts with a wonder 30 yard strike to send the two Brazilian clubs into the knockout stage.

In Group 2 Boca Juniors wrapped up the leadership with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Deportivo Táchira at La Bombonera. Martín Palermo put Boca ahead from the spot after 13 minutes and then doubled the advantage midway in the second half. Rodrigo Palacio wrapped up things 10 minutes from time. Guaraní picked up their first and only point with a 1-1 draw against Deportivo Cuenca in Asunción. Cuenca took the lead in the second minute when Rodrigo Texeira fired them ahead, but Guaraní hit back 13 minutes into the second half when Osvaldo Díaz equalized. The point though was enough to see Deportivo Cuenca into the knockout phase behind Boca.

In Group 3 it was a matter of finalising positions as Naioncal and Universidad San Martín had already qualified for the knockout phase. Afer falling behind to an 8th minute Jorge Núñez goal for Club Nacional, Uruguay's Nacional ensured top spot with a 3-1 victory. Diego Arismendi levelled things, then with half an hour left Herminio Miranda was sent off for Club Nacional before Sebastian Coates and Nicolas Lodeiro wrapped things up for Nacional. River Plate regained some pride at El Monumental with a 3-0 win over Universidad San Martín, Gustavo Bou opened the scoring before a penalty from Rubens Sambueza sent River into the break 2-0 up. Diego Barrado's 60th minute goal wrapped things up for River.

Group Six saw already eliminated Lanús take on group leaders Caracas in Cuidad de Lanús. The visitors took the lead whem Darío Figueroa put them ahead on the half hour. Lanús with only pride to play for hit back 9 minutes later through Iván Macalik and the game petered out into a tame draw. The "money match" took place in Viña del Mar where Everton met Guadalajara. The hosts had to win to ensure qualification and they got off to the worst possible start when Javier Balcazar put the Mexicans ahead with 6 minutes on the clock. The hosts with everything to play for hit back 2 minutes afer half time when Jaime Riveros equalized. Everton couldn't find the breakthrough and Guadalajara qualified for the knockout stage behind Caracas. The game was marred though by a double sending off for Everton's Ezequiel Miralles and Guadalajara's Gonzalo Pineda two minutes from time.

Grêmio confirmed top spot in Group 7 with a 3-0 victory over Boyacá Chicó at the Monumental. Boyacá Chicó needed at least a point in order to progress and were undone in the first half hour. Souza put the host ahead in the 12th minute and added one 5 minutes later before Léo finished things off on the half hour. This opened the door for Universidad de Chile and they travelled to Bolivia to take on Aurora trailing Boyacá Chicó by 2 points in the standings. Aurora had lost all 5 games so far so the onus was on Universidad de Chile to produce the goods. Universidad de Chile got off to the perfect start when Marco Estrada put them ahead in the 14th minute. But the home side hit back 6 minutes later when Derlis Paredes equalised. Going into the last quarter of the game Universidad de Chile still needed the goal to put them through and it arrived 16 minutes from time. Juan González with the vital strike to send Universidad de Chile through in second place alongside Grêmio.

In group 8 we noted last week that things were clear cut, that was until the eliminated San Lorenzo dusted Universitario 2-0 in Buenos Aires with an own goal from Ronaille Calheira and Alejandro Gómez scoring in the space of 4 first half minutes. This then shifted the attention to Luque in Paraguay where guaranteed group winners Club Libertad hosted San Luis. The Mexican invitees needed to win by at least 2 clear goals to have any chance to qualify and were boosted when the hosts fielded a virtual reserve side. San Luis weren't going to miss this opportunity but it took a 58th minute goal from Jairo Patiño to put them ahead before an injury time strike from Ignacio Torres gave the Mexicans the ideal result. This meant Club Libertad qualified as group leaders with San Luis sneaking in on goal difference from Universitario.

No messing about in South America, the knockout stage of the competition begins next week. Unlike UEFA where there is a fixed draw, CONMEBOL seed the teams according to performance in the group stages. Grêmio have been seeded 1 and they will take on the worst group runner up Universidad San Martín. Because of the swine flu outbreak, both Mexican teams will play their home legs as a double header at the El Campin Stadium in Bogota.

The 1st Leg games are scheduled for 6th May and are as follows

Universidad San Martín v Grêmio
Deportivo Cuenca v Caracas
Universidad de Chile v Cruzeiro
Guadalajara v São Paulo
Palmeiras v Sport
San Luis v Nacional
Club Libertad v Estudiantes
Defensor Sporting v Boca Juniors