Union Espanola qualify for the last 16 stage

The Chilean side secured their spot in the knockout rounds with a hard-fought victory over Bolivar while Deportivo Quito and Arsenal de Sarandi kept their hopes alive with wins.Deportivo Quito made their home advantage count as Defensor Sporting struggled to keep pace at the Estadio Olimpico Atahualpa, roughly 9000 feet above sea level.The hosts enjoyed a great start and could have been ahead within 10 minutes but Julio Bevacqua shot wide after a give-and-go with Fidel Martinez. The Ecuadorians continued to dominate, with Defensor spending much of the game in their own half. In the 34th minute, Matias Alustiza failed to get enough curl on his left-footed effort to find the top corner but played a part in the opening goal three minutes later. A superb in-swinging cross from Alustiza was headed into the bottom corner by Luis Checa to give Los Azulgrana a deserved lead.La Viola were reduced to 10 men in the 56th minute when Federico Pintos was given a straight red card and his side found themselves two goals down just eight minutes later. Martinez did superbly to carry the ball forward from deep before slipping a through-ball to Bevacqua who slotted past Yonatan Irrazabal.The result puts La Academia in a great position to qualify from Group 7 as they welcome bottom side Chivas Guadalajara to Quito next week. For Defensor it is a huge blow and they now face the unenviable task of defeating Velez in Liniers to have any chance of knockout spot.Union Espanola overcame Bolivar, earning a 2-1 to ensure that they will play a part in the last 16.Emanuel Herrera was denied twice by Marcos Arguello in the opening 15 minutes but Los Diablos Rojos took the lead just two minutes later. A corner from the right was flicked on by Jorge Ampuero and Braulio Leal nodded in at the back post. Bolivar were by no means out of the match and they went close through Jhasmany Campos and Rudy Cardozo before the half-hour mark.On the stroke of half time Ever Cantero saw his effort rattle the frame of Eduardo Lobos’ goal as the Bolivians sought an equaliser. However, they suffered a bitter blow with 67 minutes played as a long ball from the Union keeper was nodded goalwards by Sebastian Jaime and Herrera followed in to make sure. Boivar pulled one back through Cantero in the 83rd minute but it was not enough to rescue a point for the visitors.The vitory secures qualification for the knockout round from Group 3 for Los Rojos and they will win the group should they avoid defeat to Junior in their final group game. Progression is still in Bolivar's hands and they will have altitude on their side when they welcome Universidad Catolica to La Paz next week.Arsenal de Sarandi managed to secure a vital three points in Venezuela despite lining up without the influential trio of Luciano Leguizamon, Carlos Carbonero and Lisandro Lopez.It was not plain sailing for the Arse as Cristian Campestrini was forced into a string of saves in the opening stages of the match. Gustavo Blanco should have put the Argentines one up inside the opening 20 minutes but he blazed over the bar from inside the six-yard box. The visitors were offered a helping hand when a penalty was awarded for handball against Dollby Rodriguez. Juan Pablo Caffa stepped up to the spot and tucked it away, sending the keeper the wrong way with 30 minutes played.Zamora pressed high up the pitch as they looked to earn a way back into the game. However, they became vulnerable to the counterattack and would have found themselves 2-0 down with 30 minutes remaining had it not been for the referee's assistant's flag.Arsenal held on to the victory to inflict Zamora's fourth consecutive defeat in Group 4 but they will need help from Fluminense if they are to qualify for the next round. If the Brazilians beat Boca Juniors, it will set up a winner-takes-it-all final group game between the two Argentine sides.Atletico Nacional took an early lead in Medellin and never looked back as they cruised to a comfortable win over last year's runners-up to book a place in the knockouts.It took Los Verdolagas just seven minutes to put distance between themselves and Penarol. Macnelly Torres' delivery to the back post was headed across goal by Cristian Tula and Oscar Murillo slid the ball into the net. The hosts were dominant and the lead was doubled just before the break when Dorlan Pabon thumped in an absolute missile of a free kick from 35 yards in the 45th minute to score his fifth goal of the tournament.El Verde completed a double over the Uruguayans with 15 second half minutes played. An exquisite centre by Alejandro Bernal exposed the space between defenders and goalkeeper and Diego Alvarez was on the end of it to slot the ball past Danilo Lerda. The Colombians continued to control the game but stepped off the gas and almost allowed Penarol a consollation goal in the 81st minute. Another expertly struck free kick, this time courtesy of Rodrigo Mora, cracked against the top of the bar and behind for a goal kick.Atletico move to the top of Group 8, one point ahead of the also qualified Universidad de Chile. The pair will face off next week and the Chileans will need a win to displace Santiago Escobar's side from the group summit. Penarol meanwhile are eliminated and will finish bottom of the group. However, they will want to rescue some dignity and beat Godoy Cruz in their final game.