RIO DE JANEIRO, April 19 - Brazilian champions
Corinthians reached the Libertadores Cup last 16 with a
comfortable 3-0 win over Deportivo Cali on Wednesday.
Mexico's UANL followed them through from Group Four in
dramatic style by beating Universidad Catolica 1-0 with a
stoppage-time strike to qualify on goal difference at the
expense of the Chilean champions.
Newell's Old Boys also advanced by beating The Strongest
2-0 in Rosario in Group Three.
Fifteen of the 16 places have now been filled and the other
qualifier will be decided on Thursday with the final matches in
Group Eight.
River Plate, among the pre-tournament favourites, need to
beat already-qualified Libertad at home to make sure of their
place.
Daniel Passarella's team have six points and if they drew
would be overtaken by the winners of the match between
Ecuadorean army club El Nacional and Brazilians Paulista, who
have five each and play in Quito. Paraguay's Libertad have 11
points.
Corinthians topped Group Four with 13 points, while UANL
and Universidad Catolica finished on 10 but the Mexicans took
second place on goal difference. Cali came last with one point.
Corinthians effectively settled the issue in less than half
an hour in Sao Paulo.
They went ahead after six minutes when Marcus Vinicius
outjumped the Cali defence to head home after Rubens Juniors
floated over a cross from the left.
Another Rubens Junior cross led to the second in the 28th
minute, this time finding Argentina forward Carlos Tevez who
scored with a flying volley.
Tevez was a constant torment for the Colombian rearguard
and Dario Caballero was sent off for kicking him in the 44th
minute.
The third goal came from another cross into the area as
Coelho cut in from the right and floated the ball over for
Nilmar to head in his fourth goal of the tournament.
SPECTACULAR STRIKE
In Monterrey, Universidad Catolica were on the brink of
holding out for the goalless draw they needed, especially after
UANL had Gabriel Briseno with six minutes remaining.
Instead, they left Carlos Ramirez unmarked and he volleyed
home a cross from the right in the first minute of
stoppage-time.
It was a bitter blow for Catolica, who at one stage
appeared certain to qualify, only to lose their last two games.
Their defeat also left Chile without a team in the last 16.
Newell's began the day bottom of Group 3 with five points
but overtook both Union Espanola and The Strongest to finish
second, behind Goias who had already qualified and topped the
group with 11 points.
The Argentines opened the score with a spectacular strike
from midfielder Ariel Zapata, who picked up a loose ball and
found the top corner from 30 metres after seven minutes.
Seven minutes into the second half, former Argentina
forward Ariel Ortega dispossessed an opponent and slipped the
ball to Hector Steinert, who glided past one defender and
rounded goalkeeper Ever Caballero to double the lead.
Newell's finished ahead of Union Espanola on goal
difference after the Chileans drew 0-0 away to Goias in
Goiania. The Strongest were last with six points.
(Writing by Brian Homewood)