Copa Libertadores: Pumas and Deportivo Tachira Lock Up Berths In Knockout Stage

Copa Libertadores group-stage play continued on Wednesday with five games.

GROUP ONE:

At Buenos Aires:

Ignacio Fernandez scored twice (25', 82') as defending champs River Plate made The Strongest look like 97-pound weaklings by dismantling the visiting Bolivian club 6-0.

Group One Standings:

1.    River Plate, Argentina (GP: 4; GD: +10; PTS: 8)
2.    The Strongest (GP: 4; GD: -4; PTS: 7)
3.    Sao Paulo (GP: 4; GD: +5; PTS: 5)
4. z-Trujillanos (GP: 4; GD: -11; PTS: 1)

z-Eliminated from tournament



GROUP TWO:

At Rosario, Argentina:

Gabriel Jesus scored twice (5', 45') and Lucas Barrios once (77') as Palmeiras gained a 3-3 road draw with Rosario Central.  Alejandro Donatti (33'), Franco Cervi (51'), and Marco Ruben (PK-66') each scored once for the hosts.



GROUP FIVE:

At Sangolqui, Ecuador:

Junior Somoza scored twice (21', PK-40') as Independiente del Valle held off visiting Atletico Mineiro 3-2.



GROUP SEVEN:

At Mexico City:

Matias Britos scored what proved to be the game winner in the 50th minute as Pumas locked up a berth in the knockout stage with a 4-1 home domination of Club Olimpia, eliminating the Paraguayan club from the tournament.  The result also clinched a knockout-stage berth for Venezuela's Deportivo Tachira.

Group Seven Standings:

1.x-UNAM Pumas (GP: 5; GD: +8; PTS: 12)
2.x-Deportivo Tachira (GP: 5; GD: -1; PTS: 9)
3.z-Club Sport Emelec (GP: 5; GD: -3; PTS: 4)
4.z-Club Olimpia (GP; 5; GD: -4; PTS: 4)

z-Eliminated from tournament



GROUP EIGHT:

At Bogota, Colombia:

Elias Mendes Trindale's equalizer in the 58th minute lifted Corinthians to a 1-1 road draw with Independiente Santa Fe.  Anthony Otero scored for the hosts in the third minute of first-half stoppage time.