Santos advances 4-1 on points
No goals for the Premier Sports TV viewers as Santos made it through to the last 8 with a goalless draw against América of Mexico. América nearly took the lead in the opening five minutes but Juan Valenzuela just could get his head onto the ball and they came even closer half way through the half when Aquivaldo Mosquera hit the inside of the post, the ball hit Rafael in the Santos goal but went to safety. Santos also hit the post five minutes into the second half after a free kick from Paulo Henrique Ganso and captain Edu Dracena missed a golden opportunity to make the tie safe. As they game pushed on, América went to the goal to give them a chance of a shoot out at least but Rafael ended up being the Santos hero on the night.
Cruzeiro 0-2 Once Caldas
3-3 on points, Once Caldas advances on goal difference
The Premier Sports TV viewers were treated to a shock result with both teams also reduced to ten players. Roger of Cruzeiro went with just half an hour gone for two yellow cards and Carlos Carbonero saw a straight red 11 minutes after the break. A goal less draw would have done Cruzeiro but they fell behind when Diego Amaya headed them home midway through the half to level the tie on goals. Cruzeiro still had the away goal advantage but that disappeared nineteen minutes from time after Walter Rentería hit the post Dayro Moreno slammed the ball home from the edge of the box to put them ahead. Cruzeiro couldn't get the goal needed to force a shoot out and small band of fans who had made the long journey went home happy. Once Caldas will now meet Santos in the last eight
Internacional 1-2 Peñarol
Peñarol advances 4-1 on points.
Another shock, this time at the Beira-Rio as holders Internacional of Brazil were knocked out by the 5 times winners Peñarol of Uruguay. It all started to well for Inter when they were ahead inside a minute when Pedro sliced through some poor Peñarol defending and beat Sebastian Sosa in the Peñarol goal with a thumping shot from the edge of the box. Peñarol levelled just 25 seconds into the second half, Alejandro Martinuccio was allowed to run in the Inter box and he fired past Renan. Four minutes later the huge travelling support were in dreamland when Luis Aguiar's pinpoint cross was headed home by Juan Manuel Oliveira.
Universidad Catolíca 1-0 Grêmio
Universidad Católica advances 6-0 on points
Not a good night for the good folk of Porto Alegre as Grêmio became the third Brazilian side to be eliminated after Universidad Católica of Chile made it through with a comfortable victory on the night after their win in Brazil last week. A draw was enough for the Chilean side and the game seem to be heading that way but three minutes from time substitute Milovan Mirosevic headed past Marcelo Grohe to make it a bad week for Grêmio after their Gre-Nal defeat the previous weekend.
Libertad 3-0 Fluminense
3-3 on points, Libertad advances on goal difference
To cap off a really bad night for the Brazilian sides, Fluminense threw a two goal first leg advantage away late on to crash out. After a goalless first half Libertad took the lead when Rodrigo Rojas 30 yard effort flew past Ricardo Berna in the Fluminense goal. The Tricolor were still on their way to the last 8 until Miguel Samudio's volley from the edge of the D found the back of the net four minutes from time. Libertad were suddenly ahead in the tie courtesy of the away goal last week in the Engenhão and Fluminense were suddenly chasing the tie after sitting back and as they chased the game, gaps appeared and Jose Núñez fired home to make it three in injury time. There was still time for Mariano of Fluminense to get himself sent off to cap off a miserable night for them and Brazilian clubs, their worst showing in the Libertadores since 1994.
LDU Quito 0-2 Vélez Sarsfield
Vélez Sarsfield advances 6-0 on points
In Quito the 2008 winners LDU were dumped out of the competition as Vélez Sarsfield made it through with another comfortable victory. They opened the scoring ten minutes after the break when substitute David Ramírez released Ricardo Álcarez and he cut inside before firing past Alexander Domínguez in the the LDU goal. Ten minutes from time they wrapped things up, as LDU pressed for a way back into the game to restore some pride they were caught short by a long ball and Ivan Bella fired home to make it two. The night finished on a low note for LDU when Jorge Guagua was sent off two minutes from time.
Cerro Porteño 0-0 Estudiantes
2-2 on points, Cerro Porteño advances 5-3 on penalties
No goals again for the Premier Sports TV viewers as Cerro Porteño and Estudiantes again failed to break the deadlock. Referee Óscar Ruiz marked his final Libertadores game by dishing out nine yellow cards as the game went to a penalty shoot out. Substitute Julio dos Santos put Cerro Porteño ahead but Leandro Benitez calmly levelled for the visitors. Jonathan Fabbro then restored the lead and Hernan López levelled again for Estudiantes. Roberto Nanni of Cerro Porteño and Juan Pereya of Estudiantes kept both teams perfect before Luis Cáceres has his penalty saved by Agustin Orión in the Estudiantes goal, but Óscar Ruiz ruled that he had moved too soon and ordered a re-take. The Estuduantes coach Eduardo Berizzo went to discuss this with the referee but the TV replays proved the decision was correct and Cáceres made no mistake second time around. To rub the salt in the Estudiantes wounds, Cerro Porteño keeper Diego Baretto then saved Facundo Roncaglia's penalty to put the home side "on the hill". Cerro Porteño's Argentinian star Javier Villarreal then stepped up to slam the next penalty home to put his side into the last eight. knock out his fellow countrymen and start the party in Asunción.
Junior 3-3 Jaguares
2-2 on points, Jaguares advances on the away goals rule.
Junior of Colombia exited the competition after letting a lead slip three times against Mexican side Jaguares in Branquilla to go out on away goals. After the 1-1 draw last week in Mexico, Junior took the lead ten minutes before the break when Juan Valencia fired home after a mistake from Jorge Villalpando in the Jaguares goal. The lead lasted five minutes before Jaguares got their away goal back when Jackson Martínez climbed highest to head home. Six minutes after the break, Junior were ahead again when Luiz Páez converted from the penalty spot after John Viáfra had been brought down. Villalpando then made a crucial save to keep Jaguares in the tie before the complexion of the tie turned when Jackson Martínez levelled again after firing home a rebound from a Sebestian Viera save. The home side edged ahead again seventeen minutes from time when Villalpando made a schoolboy error and Carlos Bacca was on the spot to put the ball into an empty net, it was to be Villalpando's last involvement in the game as he was hauled off by coach Jose Cruz and the disgruntled goalkeeper didn't help himself by trying to attack his coach. Then twelve minutes from time came the flash point, Cesar Fawcett of Junior and Jackson Martínez clashed, players came rushing in from all directions for a bit of push and shove and the spectators which entered the field to join in were attacked by the Jaguares players, referee Heber Roberto Lopes of Brazil dismissed the two originators of the trouble. Incredibly, the Mexicans levelled again three minutes from time when a 30 yarder from Edgar Andrade flew past Viera to give Jaguares the draw and passage into the last eight.
Check the Premier Sports TV listings for the Copa Libertadores review show
These ties during the week were unfortunately marked by the appearance of laser pens at more than one of the fixtures, CONMEBOL need to be taking the appropriate action to ensure there is no repeat of this in the last eight ties which are due to take place next week.
The fixtures are
Santos v Once Caldas
Vélez Sarsfield v Libertad
Universidad Católica v Peñarol
Cerro Porteño v Jaguares
Premier Sports TV is the home of the Copa Libertadores in the UK
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